25 OTT Platforms Banned: The government emphasized how OTT services disregarded or got around warnings given months ago; 25 of these platforms have now been prohibited due to “obscene” and “pornographic” content. It mentioned that more than 100 web series have been taken off the Ullu platform. According to sources in the union ministry for information and broadcasting, “the platform either re-uploads or publishes the unedited version after a certain period, thereby attempting to circumvent the warnings, even though it removes or edits the web series for a temporary period.”
Ullu removed the television show House Arrest in May 2024, marking one of the earliest interventions. In February, authorities advised an OTT platform to follow the Code of Ethics under the IT Rules 2021 and comply with Indian obscenity laws, according to sources. In March 2024, five previously blocked platforms launched new website domains and published obscene content again. Despite earlier warnings, the 25 platforms continued to publish obscene, and in some cases, pornographic, content. They ignored repeated advisories issued in September 2023.
40 OTT Platforms banned?
The Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council (DPCGC), a self-regulatory body led by a former Supreme Court judge and representing 40 OTT platforms, including ALTT and Ullu, took action against objectionable content. The DPCGC criticized an ALTT series for showing “totally distasteful and bizarre” scenes of sex and nudity without any contextual justification, aimed purely at boosting viewership. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) contacted the government in July and August 2024, specifically raising concerns about content on Ullu and ALTT. Acting on these complaints, the government banned 14 mobile apps and 26 websites linked to the 25 OTT platforms.
These are the banned apps and platforms:
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The government currently enforces the prohibition under the IT Act and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act. Earlier this year, a public-interest petition brought the case to the Supreme Court. Authorities issued notices to platforms including Ullu, ALTT, Netflix, Amazon Prime, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. However, the Supreme Court ruled that only the legislature or the executive branch should handle the issue. The court told the government, “It’s not our domain, you do something.”
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