Government Cracks Down on 25 OTT Platforms Over Explicit Content
In a significant move to regulate digital content, the central government has blocked 25 Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms in 2025 for circulating objectionable material. Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Jitin Prasada, officially informed the Lok Sabha about this decisive action on February 11.
Coordinated Action by Multiple Ministries
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) executed the ban after extensive consultations with the Ministry of Home Affairs and various authorities specializing in child and women's welfare. According to government statements, these digital platforms were allegedly streaming content categorized as obscene, vulgar, and in some instances, outright pornographic, all under the misleading banner of entertainment.
Following the official directive, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) across the country were instructed to restrict public access to these platforms. Simultaneously, major app marketplaces including the Apple App Store and Google Play Store received orders to remove the concerned applications from their digital storefronts.
List of Banned Platforms
The comprehensive list of blocked OTT services includes several prominent names in the Indian digital entertainment space:
- ALTT (ALTBalaji)
- Ullu
- Big Shots App
- Desiflix
- Boomex
- NeonX VIP
- Navarasa Lite
- Gulab App
- Kangan App
- Bull App
Additional platforms facing restrictions include ShowHit, Jalva App, Wow Entertainment, Look Entertainment, Hitprime, Fugi, Feneo, ShowX, Sol Talkies, Adda TV, HotX VIP, Hulchul App, MoodX, Triflicks, and Mojflix.
Legal Basis for the Ban
The government's decision primarily rests on provisions within the Information Technology Act, 2000. Specific sections cited include Section 67 and Section 67A, which explicitly deal with publishing or transmitting obscene and sexually explicit material in electronic form. These legal provisions provided the crucial foundation for the enforcement action.
Furthermore, authorities stated that the platforms were in clear violation of the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Officials observed that much of the content on these services lacked substantial narratives or social relevance, instead relying heavily on explicit visuals and sensational sequences primarily designed to drive traffic and increase subscription numbers.
Year-Long Scrutiny Preceded Final Action
This crackdown was not an impulsive decision but followed months of systematic monitoring and warnings. The government had initially issued advisories to these platforms as early as September 2024, urging them to comply with the prescribed Code of Ethics for digital media.
However, subsequent investigations conducted by the Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council (DPCGC) and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) reportedly found that several services continued to deliberately bypass established guidelines. This persistent non-compliance ultimately led to the decisive enforcement action taken in 2025.
The government's move underscores its commitment to creating a safer digital ecosystem, particularly protecting vulnerable audiences from harmful content while upholding legal and ethical standards in India's rapidly growing OTT entertainment sector.
