Govt cracks down on OTT: Over 20 platforms including Ullu, ALTT, Desiflix banned for obscene content

In a sweeping crackdown on digital content, the Government of India has ordered an immediate ban on over 20 over-the-top (OTT) platforms — among them Ullu, ALTT, and Desiflix — for allegedly streaming “obscene, vulgar, and in some cases, pornographic” content.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), in a directive said the action was taken after consultations with multiple stakeholders, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Department of Legal Affairs, as well as industry bodies like FICCI and CII, and experts on women and child rights.

The government has instructed all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in India to disable or block public access to the listed apps and websites under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT Rules, 2021.

“Much of the content was pornographic, with long explicit scenes involving nudity and hardly any storyline or social messaging,” the ministry’s notification stated.

Content flagged in three categories

The ministry identified three broad categories of violations across the banned platforms:

• Pornographic content: Extensive use of sexual innuendo and explicit scenes, with little to no narrative substance.
• Inappropriate depiction of sex and nudity: Including portrayals within family settings and contexts deemed socially inappropriate.
• Legal violations: Breaches of multiple legal provisions including Section 67 and 67A of the IT Act, Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.

Total platforms banned

• Websites blocked: 26
• Apps removed: 14 (9 on Google Play Store, 5 on Apple App Store)

Full list of banned OTT platforms:

Ullu, ALTT, Desiflix, Big Shots App, 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.

The government has not ruled out further action against similar content producers, warning that digital safety, especially of women and minors, will remain a top enforcement priority.