Government Bans 25 OTTs Including Ullu, ALTT, Desiflix, Big Shots For Obscene Content
The ban comes after the government references received from National Commission on Protection of Child Rights in July and August 2024 regarding the platforms Ullu and ALTT.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on Friday has directed blocking of websites and apps of 25 OTT platforms depicting obscene, vulgar and in some cases, pornographic content. The I&B Ministry has issued a notification directing internet service providers to disable public access of 25 websites within India identified as hosting ''prohibited material''.
The 25 websites include: ALTT, ULLU, Big Shots App, Desiflix, 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, Triflicks.
This move comes after the government references received from National Commission on Protection of Child Rights or NCPCR in July and August 2024 regarding the platforms Ullu and ALTT. I&B Ministry had also received multiple public grievances against the concerned platforms.
According to the notification, the content in these websites included sexual innuendos and in some cases long portions of sexually explicit scenes involving nudity thereby being pornographic in nature. There was hardly any storyline, theme or message in a social context. A large portion of the content was obscene and vulgar.
"Depiction of nudity and sex in several inappropriate contexts including the relationships such as family relationships, etc.," it added. Utilising the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the IT Rules, 2021, notifications have been issued to the various intermediaries to ensure that access to the concerned websites and apps is disabled.
The action was taken in consultation with the MHA, MWCD, MeitY, Department of Legal Affairs or DoLA, industry bodies FICCI and CII, and experts in the field of women rights and child rights.
