Desi OTT crackdown: ULLU, Big Shots, Desiflix among 25 apps banned by govt; check list

The government has ordered a ban on more than 20 OTT platforms, including Ullu, ALTT, and Desiflix, for allegedly violating various laws, particularly those related to the “indecent” representation of women, reported PTI on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The ban is aimed at curbing the easy availability of pornographic material, especially to minors, and ensuring that digital content remains within the bounds of decency and law, they said.

The government directed the blocking of websites and apps linked to 25 OTT platforms for hosting “obscene”, “vulgar”, and, in some cases, “pornographic content”, reported Hindustan Times, citing sources in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

According to the report, the action was prompted after the content was found to be in “serious violation” of Indian laws.

Many of these platforms hosted content containing sexual innuendos and, in some cases, prolonged scenes of sexually explicit acts involving nudity, which were pornographic in nature, HT quoted officials as saying. Much of the material lacked any meaningful storyline, theme, or social message and was instead dominated by obscene and vulgar visuals.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed Internet Service Providers to disable or remove public access to these websites within India.

The government has not yet issued a formal public notification.

Here's the list of apps facing a crackdown:

• ALTT
• ULLU
• Big Shots App
• Desiflix
• Boome
• Navarasa Lite
• Gulab App
• Kangan App
• Bull Ap
• Jalva App
• Wow Entertainment
• Look Entertainment
• Hitprime
• Feneo
• ShowX
• Sol Talkies
• Adda TV
• HotX VIP
• Hulchul App
• MoodX
• NeonX VIP
• Fugi
• Mojflix
• Triflicks

In April, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre and major digital platforms in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking action against the streaming of sexually explicit content on OTT and social media platforms.

The bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih had observed that while the petition raised a significant concern, the matter fell under the purview of the executive or legislature.

“It’s not our domain, you do something,” the Supreme Court had said.