Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 25: In a significant move aimed at curbing obscene and sexually explicit digital content, the central government has ordered a ban on 25 OTT platforms, including well-known names like Ullu, ALTT, and Desiflix. The directive, issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), has instructed Internet Service Providers (ISPs) across India to disable access to these platforms immediately.

The banned platforms have been accused of violating provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, including Sections 67 and 67A, which pertain to the transmission of obscene material in electronic form. In addition, violations were noted under Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.

The complete list includes apps such as Big Shots App, Boomex, Navarasa Lite, Gulab App, Kangan App, Bull App, Jalva App, Wow Entertainment, Look Entertainment, Hitprime, Feneo, ShowX, Sol Talkies, Adda TV, HotX VIP, Hulchul App, MoodX, NeonX VIP, Fugi, Mojflix, and Triflicks.

"The action is part of the government’s ongoing crackdown on digital platforms spreading content that violates Indian laws and cultural sensibilities," officials noted.

As per reports, the MIB has also reached out to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to ensure ISPs facilitate compliance without delay. This step reaffirms the government’s commitment to strengthening digital ethics and ensuring the safe consumption of content on streaming platforms.

The move comes just months after the Supreme Court, while hearing a petition on banning sexually explicit material on OTT platforms, called for executive-level action. The court had remarked, “It’s not our domain, you do something,” urging the government to act under existing legal frameworks.

The ban marks a major shift in digital media regulation in India, signaling stricter enforcement and monitoring of content in the OTT space going forward.