On July 23, 2025, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting—working with Home Affairs, MeitY, Legal Affairs, FICCI, CII, and child rights experts—ordered Internet service providers across India to block access to 25 OTT platforms and mobile apps. The list includes ULLU, ALTT (ALTBalaji), Desiflix, Big Shots, and others accused of hosting obscene, vulgar, or pornographic content
Authorities cited violations of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the IT Rules 2021, Section 67 and 67A of the IT Act, Section 292 IPC, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986
Content Violations and Recurring Warnings
- Many banned platforms were found streaming sexual innuendos, prolonged scenes of nudity, and explicit acts without meaningful narratives or social context
- ULLU and ALTT had repeatedly been flagged by the NCPCR and the Digital Publisher Content Grievance Council (DPCGC) in 2024 for objectionable shows and repeated violation of take-down instructions
- Despite multiple advisories—most recent on February 9, 2025—many platforms continued to publish or re-upload unedited content, effectively circumventing warnings
Platforms Affected by the Ban
The full list of blocked platforms includes:
- ULLU, ALTT (ALTBalaji), 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
Notifications were sent to ISPs asking them to disable public access—impacting both websites and app access via Google Play or other stores
Broader Impact and Legal Context
- This marks India’s largest crackdown on OTT platforms under the IT Rules 2021 emphasizing self-regulation over obscene content
- Previous actions include bans on 18 OTT platforms in March 2024, yet some earlier-blocked platforms were relaunched via new domains, prompting renewed enforcementThe Times of India
- The government reiterated that digital content must comply with Indian moral, legal, and social standards—especially when minors are at risk
What It Means Going Forward
- The current action sets a precedent: OTT platforms must enforce stricter self-regulation, censoring or certifying content per legal norms.
- Industry bodies and regulators may now move to formalize more binding content evaluation, including mandatory frameworks for age verification and AI-based moderation tools.
- Platforms face increased scrutiny from stakeholders, as legal risk and brand liabilities rise with public exposure.
Summary
India’s federal government has taken sweeping action by blocking 25 OTT platforms, including ULLU and ALTBalaji, for distributing explicit content deemed obscene or pornographic. The move highlights growing regulatory enforcement under the IT Rules 2021 and reinforces the necessity of ethical content moderation in India’s digital ecosystem.
