New Delhi: The central government has banned more than 25 OTT platforms, including Ullu, ALTBalaji and Desiflix, for allegedly streaming obscene and sexually explicit content.
Internet service providers have also been asked to disable public access to 26 such websites. Fourteen more apps have been listed for alleged violation of IT Rules and existing obscenity laws, particularly regarding “indecent” representation of women.
The action was taken in consultation Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Department of Legal Affairs (DoLA), industry bodies such as FICCI and CII, and experts in the fields of women’s rights and child rights. “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 government said in an official statement.
The ban seeks to restrict access to pornographic content, especially for minors, and to ensure digital content complies with decency standards and legal regulations.
LIST OF BANNED OTT PLATFORMS
The ban came almost three months after the Supreme Court sent notices to the central government and major digital platforms following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), demanding action against sexually explicit content on OTT and social media platforms. The notices were issued to the Centre, Netflix, Amazon Prime, ULLU, ALTT, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and others.
In May, the National Commission for Women (NCW) had also pulled up the management of OTT platform ULLU App over the allegedly obscene and degrading portrayal of women in its web series House Arrest, featuring former Bigg Boss contestant Ajaz Khan, and warned of possible regulatory action, including a complete ban.