NEW DELHI: The government on Friday banned 25 over-the-top (OTT) platforms for hosting 'indecent content'. It also directed internet service providers to disable public access to these websites, according to sources cited by news agency ANI.
The action was taken in consultation with the MHA, MWCD, MeitY, Department of Legal Affairs, industry bodies FICCI and CII, as well as experts in women’s and child rights, the report said.
The move aims to restrict the easy access to pornographic content, especially by minors, and to ensure that digital content adheres to legal and moral standards, they added.
According to PTI sources, the following apps were identified for violating various laws:
BJP MP Anurag Singh Thakur had warned platforms against promoting obscenity under the cover of creativity. Acting under the Information Technology Act, 2000, the ministry consulted experts from media, women’s rights, and child protection before initiating the ban. The platforms blocked include Dreams Films, Voovi, Yessma, Hunters, Rabbit, and Prime Play, among others.
The government had then found that much of the content depicted women in degrading ways, included nudity and sexual acts in inappropriate contexts—such as teacher-student and incestuous relationships—and lacked any social or narrative value. These were deemed to be in violation of Section 67 and 67A of the IT Act, Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
Some of the blocked apps had seen massive traction, with one crossing over one crore downloads and others exceeding 50 lakh on the Google Play Store. Social media was used extensively by these platforms to push clips, trailers, and links, collectively amassing over 3.2 million followers.
The action was taken in consultation with the MHA, MWCD, MeitY, Department of Legal Affairs, industry bodies FICCI and CII, as well as experts in women’s and child rights, the report said.
The move aims to restrict the easy access to pornographic content, especially by minors, and to ensure that digital content adheres to legal and moral standards, they added.
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According to PTI sources, the following apps were identified for violating various laws:
- 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
BJP MP Anurag Singh Thakur had warned platforms against promoting obscenity under the cover of creativity. Acting under the Information Technology Act, 2000, the ministry consulted experts from media, women’s rights, and child protection before initiating the ban. The platforms blocked include Dreams Films, Voovi, Yessma, Hunters, Rabbit, and Prime Play, among others.
The government had then found that much of the content depicted women in degrading ways, included nudity and sexual acts in inappropriate contexts—such as teacher-student and incestuous relationships—and lacked any social or narrative value. These were deemed to be in violation of Section 67 and 67A of the IT Act, Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
Some of the blocked apps had seen massive traction, with one crossing over one crore downloads and others exceeding 50 lakh on the Google Play Store. Social media was used extensively by these platforms to push clips, trailers, and links, collectively amassing over 3.2 million followers.
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