Govt Bans 25 OTT Platforms Including ULLU, ALTT, and Big Shots for Obscene Content
25 July 2025 1:10 PM IST25 July 2025 1:10 PM IST
Issuing a notification, the government directed Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to disable public access to the apps and websites in India, according to a report.
Issuing a notification, the government directed Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to disable public access to the apps and websites in India, according to a report.
New Delhi: The government has ordered the blocking of websites and apps belonging to 25 OTT platforms, including Ullu, ALTT, and Desiflix, for hosting obscene, vulgar, and in some cases, pornographic content. The apps blocked include: Big Shots App, Desiflix, Boomex, NeonX VIP, Navarasa Lite, Gulab App, Kangan App, Bull App, ShowHit, Jalva App, Wow Entertainment, Look Entertainment, Hitprime, Fugi, Feneo, ShowX, Sol Talkies, Adda TV, ALTT, HotX VIP, Hulchul App, MoodX, Triflicks, Ullu, and Mojflix.
According to officials, the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) directed the action in consultation with the ministries of home affairs, women and child development, electronics and information technology, law and justice, industry bodies such as FICCI and CII, and experts in the fields of women and child rights.
Utilising provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the government issued notifications to various intermediaries to ensure access to the concerned websites and apps is disabled.
Officials stated that content on these platforms included sexual innuendos and, in some instances, long segments of sexually explicit scenes involving nudity—thereby qualifying as pornographic in nature. They noted that most content lacked any meaningful storyline, theme, or social message, and was largely obscene and vulgar.
It was also observed that several platforms depicted nudity and sexual content in inappropriate contexts, including within family relationships.
Officials further confirmed that the content violated Section 67 of the IT Act, Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. Some platforms were also found to be in violation of Section 67A of the IT Act, which prohibits publishing sexually explicit material in electronic form.
The government received multiple complaints over the past year against platforms like Ullu and ALTT, including from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and members of the public. In May 2025, Ullu was compelled to remove the web series House Arrest following intervention by the MIB.
Despite a government advisory dated February 19, 2025, urging OTT platforms to adhere to the Code of Ethics under the IT Rules, 2021, and laws related to obscenity, the platforms continued to violate norms.
Sources said that earlier communications were issued to these 25 platforms in September 2024, yet they continued to publish objectionable content. Additionally, five platforms that had been blocked in March 2024 resurfaced with obscene content under new website domains.
It was also revealed that actions were previously taken by the Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council (DPCGC), a self-regulatory body chaired by a former Supreme Court judge, and comprising about 40 OTT platforms, including ALTT and Ullu.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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