ULLU, ALTBalaji, Desiflix Among 25 Platforms Banned by Indian Government for Hosting Obscene Content
These apps and platforms were found in ‘serious violation’ of Indian laws by hosting ‘vulgar’ or ‘pornographic’ content in the name of erotic web shows.
The Indian government has banned over two dozen platforms, including ULLU, ALTT of ALTBalaji, Desiflix, Big Shots and others, for allegedly hosting obscene and vulgar content. The crackdown is aimed at restricting access to objectionable and unlawful adult content — deemed ‘soft porn’ — on streaming apps, websites and social media handles.
As per reports, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed ISPs (Internet Service Providers) to block public access to these platforms.
The decision was taken after consultation with multiple central agencies, including the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as well as women and child rights bodies. In their view, these apps and platforms were found in ‘serious violation’ of Indian laws by hosting ‘vulgar’ or ‘pornographic’ content in the name of erotic web shows.
A total of 26 websites and 14 apps were blocked, including ALTT, Ullu, 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.
Content on these platforms were found in violation of a range of laws, including sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
They were accused of featuring sexual innuendos and explicit scenes and nudity, with little to no ’storyline, message, or social context’, reports stated.
A government notification has thus mandated intermediaries to block these platforms, invoking rules of The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The IT Rules restrict the disbursal of harmful or obscene content online, including ‘defamatory, obscene, pornographic or paedophilic’ content on digital portals.
Back in April, the Supreme Court, responding to a petition, had notified the Centre and major OTT platforms to take appropriate steps to curb the streaming of pornographic content . The government had, in the past, sent out advisories to regulate such videos and shows. However, apps such as ULLU found ways to circumvent or ignore such interventions by re-uploading the flagged content on their site, reports said.