NEW DELHI, July 26: In a significant move aimed at regulating the digital streaming space, the Centre has banned more than 20 OTT (Over the Top) apps for supposedly streaming indecent and sexually explicit content, Sources said.
Among the Identified apps that have violated laws are ALTT, ULLU, Big Shots App, Desiflix, 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, sources said.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has explicitly directed Internet Service Providers to disable or remove public access to these websites within India, they said.
According to news reports, the directive was issued on July 23 in consultation with multiple government departments and civil society stakeholders. According to the sources.
The sources said the government wanted to increase scrutiny of the unregulated spread of adult and explicit content on digital platforms, as these sites and apps were discovered hosting crude and explicit content, usually made available with no age check or content filtering.
The ban was aimed at easy pornographic content being made available particularly to minors and also at ensuring the digital content remains within the bounds of decency and the law, they said.
The Ministry also expressed concern over messaging, theme, social context and storyline, stating that “There was hardly any storyline, theme, or message in a social context,” it said. “Some content was also found to depict inappropriate sexual situations involving family relationships, further aggravating concerns over legality and decency.”
The crackdown is part of a wider effort to regulate online media more closely and safeguard users—particularly younger consumers—against damaging material, the sources said.
(Subham Singh)