India Blocks 25 OTT Platforms for Obscene Content

The Indian government has banned 25 OTT platforms, including popular ones like Ullu, ALTT, and Desi Flix, for streaming obscene, pornographic, and vulgar content that violates multiple Indian laws such as Sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act, 2000, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. This crackdown follows widespread concerns about the surge in sexually explicit material disguised as entertainment, which often lacked coherent storylines and included degrading depictions of women and inappropriate themes. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, in consultation with other ministries and industry stakeholders, ordered internet service providers to block access to these platforms to protect minors and uphold cultural and legal standards. The banned platforms reportedly failed to implement adequate content moderation or parental controls, leading to easy access to adult content by underage users. This action marks the second significant government intervention in recent months aimed at curbing the proliferation of obscene digital content, reflecting increasing public demand for stricter content regulation. Major app stores have begun removing the banned apps in compliance with government directives.