Centre bans 18 OTT platforms that hosted obscene contents

In a move to curb the proliferation of "obscene and vulgar" content, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has taken decisive action against 18 Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms, banning them from operation. Anurag Thakur, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, announced this decision on March 12, 2024.

According to ministry officials, this crackdown is in strict compliance with the Information Technology Act of 2000, reflecting the government's commitment to upholding legal standards in the digital sphere. The decision came after extensive consultations with experts across various domains, including media and entertainment, women's rights, and child rights, as well as key stakeholders from different government ministries and departments.

Highlighting the severity of the issue, ministry officials revealed that a substantial portion of the content hosted on the banned platforms was found to be objectionable, portraying women in demeaning roles and featuring explicit sexual content. Describing the nature of the content, they noted instances of nudity, sexual acts, and inappropriate themes such as teacher-student relationships and incestuous family dynamics. Such content, they emphasized, lacked any meaningful thematic or societal relevance, instead relying on sensationalism for audience engagement.

Moreover, the ministry's action extended beyond platform bans, with 19 websites, 10 mobile applications (7 on Google Play, 3 on Apple App Store), and 57 social media handles associated with OTT platforms being blocked nationwide. Officials pointed out that these platforms extensively utilized social media channels to promote their content, including trailers, specific scenes, and external links, thereby circumventing regulations and attracting viewership to their platforms.

The banned platforms include Dreams Films, Voovi, Yessma, Uncut Adda, Tri Flicks, X Prime, Neon X VIP, Besharams, Hunters, Rabbit, Xtramood, Nuefliks, MoodX, Mojflix, Hot Shots VIP, Fugi, Chikooflix, and Prime Play. This crackdown underscores the government's commitment to maintaining a responsible digital ecosystem and safeguarding societal values against harmful content.