Government has banned public access to over OTT platforms including Ullu, ALTT and Desiflix, reports news agency ANI. The banned apps and websites were found in violation of various laws, including Section 67 and Section 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. The report quotes an unnamed source who said “There was hardly any storyline, theme or message in a social context”.
According to the agency report, the action was taken in consultation with MHA, MWCD, MeitY, Department of Legal Affairs, industry bodies FICCI and CII, along with experts in women’s and child rights. The report says that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has directed Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to disable public access for publishing obscene, vulgar and pornographic content. In its official notification, the ministry emphasised that the intermediaries are responsible for removing or disabling access to unlawful information under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
What Section 67 and Section 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 says
The Section 67 and Section 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 deal with the publication and transmission of obscene and sexually implicit content in electronic form. The key difference is that Section 67 applies to general obscenity, while Section 67A deals with more graphic, sexually explicit material. The punishments under Section 67A are more severe due to the nature of the content.
Section 67 of the IT Act punishes the online publication or transmission of obscene or vulgar material that could deprave or corrupt readers, with imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh for the first offence, and up to five years in jail and Rs 10 lakh fine for repeat offences.
Section 67A, on the other hand, deals specifically with material that contains sexually explicit acts or conduct, with stricter penalties—up to five years in jail and Rs 10 lakh fine for the first offence, and up to seven years imprisonment and Rs 10 lakh fine for subsequent offences.
OTT apps banned by government
As per ANI report, 26 websites and 14 apps have been banned by the government. Names in the list of banned OTT platforms include
According to the agency report, the action was taken in consultation with MHA, MWCD, MeitY, Department of Legal Affairs, industry bodies FICCI and CII, along with experts in women’s and child rights. The report says that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has directed Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to disable public access for publishing obscene, vulgar and pornographic content. In its official notification, the ministry emphasised that the intermediaries are responsible for removing or disabling access to unlawful information under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
What Section 67 and Section 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 says
The Section 67 and Section 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 deal with the publication and transmission of obscene and sexually implicit content in electronic form. The key difference is that Section 67 applies to general obscenity, while Section 67A deals with more graphic, sexually explicit material. The punishments under Section 67A are more severe due to the nature of the content.
Section 67 of the IT Act punishes the online publication or transmission of obscene or vulgar material that could deprave or corrupt readers, with imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh for the first offence, and up to five years in jail and Rs 10 lakh fine for repeat offences.
Section 67A, on the other hand, deals specifically with material that contains sexually explicit acts or conduct, with stricter penalties—up to five years in jail and Rs 10 lakh fine for the first offence, and up to seven years imprisonment and Rs 10 lakh fine for subsequent offences.
OTT apps banned by government
As per ANI report, 26 websites and 14 apps have been banned by the government. Names in the list of banned OTT platforms 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
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