25 OTT platforms banned for showing soft porn

The government has banned 25 over-the-top (OTT) platforms for allegedly publishing obscene, vulgar and, in some cases, pornographic material, including Ullu, ALTT, Desiflix, Big Shots, and others. According to official sources, the decision was taken after these platforms were found to be hosting and distributing content described by authorities as ‘soft porn’, which violated the country's IT Rules and existing obscenity laws.In total, 26 websites and 14 mobile applications--9 listed on Google Play Store and 5 on the Apple App Store--have been ordered to be disabled by intermediaries under provisions of the IT Act, 2000 and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said that much of the content showcased by these platforms involved graphic sexual innuendos, long sequences of nudity, and pornographic visuals. "There was hardly any storyline, theme, or message in a social context," it said. Some content was also found to depict inappropriate sexual situations involving family relationships, further aggravating concerns over legality and decency.The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) acted on multiple complaints and reports indicating that the apps were allegedly circulating adult content under the guise of "erotic web series" without adequate content moderation.The latest action was taken in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Department of Legal Affairs (DoLA), industry associations FICCI and CII, and subject experts in the fields of women and child rights. Several of the platforms had previously drawn the attention of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which flagged Ullu and ALTT for alleged violations in July and August 2024. The Ministry also received multiple public grievances about the content hosted on these platforms.