In a significant move, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has banned 24 OTT platforms, including Ullu, Altt, Desiflix and Big Shots, for streaming and distributing sexually explicit content.

An official directive has been issued to internet service providers (ISPs) to disable or remove public access to these websites and apps within India, under provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the IT Rules, 2021.

In an order dated 23 July, the MIB said the action was taken in consultation with the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs), MWCD (Ministry of Women and Child Development), MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology), Department of Legal Affairs (DoLA), industry bodies FICCI and CII, and women rights and child rights experts.

The move aims to restrict content that is considered 'obscene, vulgar and in some cases, pornographic' content, particularly regarding 'indecent' representation of women.

The apps were listed as being 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 government identified Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which states that intermediaries lose their exemption from liability if they fail to expeditiously remove or disable access to material being used to commit an unlawful act, upon receiving actual knowledge or notification from the appropriate government agency.

The MIB also invoked Rule 7 of the IT Rules, 2021, which stipulates that an intermediary failing to observe these rules will not be protected by Section 79(1) of the Act and will be liable for punishment under applicable laws.

The full list of OTT platforms banned 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, and Triflicks.