Govt Blocks ALTT, ULLU, Other OTT Platforms For ‘Explicit’ Content: Report

The Centre has reportedly banned 25 over-the-top (OTT) platforms and websites, including ALTT, ULLU, Big Shots App, Desiflix and Boomex, among others, for allegedly hosting obscene, vulgar and ‘pornographic’ content.

A Storyboard18 report said that the government directed intermediaries to remove or block access to illegal content under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT Rules, 2021. 

The order, dated July 23, 2025, directs Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block 25 OTT platforms and websites that were found violating these rules.

Other banned OTT platforms include 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, as being in violation of multiple laws. 

As per MIB, these platforms allegedly violated the following laws:

• Section 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000
• Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
• Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986

The government has directed ISPs to block public access to these websites within India. 

The ministry has also notified the Director (DS-II) at the Department of Telecommunications to assist ISPs in ensuring full compliance. This move reflects the government’s continued efforts to regulate online content and enforce legal standards in the digital space.

The government has also highlighted that under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, intermediaries will lose their legal immunity if they fail to promptly remove or block access to unlawful content after receiving official notice.

It also referred to Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules, 2021, which bars intermediaries from hosting or publishing content prohibited by law, particularly content that affects India’s sovereignty, security, foreign relations, public order, morality, or may amount to contempt of court, defamation, or incitement to an offense.

According to the report, MIB also pointed to Rule 7 of the IT Rules, 2021, which says that if intermediaries don’t follow the rules, they lose legal protection and can be held accountable under the law. Part III of the IT Rules, which is handled by the ministry, applies to digital publishers of news, current affairs, and online shows or series. These publishers must follow a Code of Ethics that clearly bans sharing any illegal content.

The ban notice was signed by the ministry’s Joint Secretary, who also acts as the Nodal Officer in charge of alerting platforms about illegal content, as per an official order issued on December 21, 2023.

Govt Eyes Tighter OTT, Social Media Rules

The development comes at a time when the government has been calling for tightening the existing rules which govern social media and OTT platforms in the country. Last year, the Centre blocked 18 OTT platforms, including Uncut Adda, Dreams Films and Prime Play, among others, for publishing obscene, vulgar and in some instances pornographic content, after multiple warnings.

A few months ago, it was reported that the Centre is considering new regulations to curb obscene content online. The statement was made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta during a Supreme Court hearing of a PIL filed by journalist and former information commissioner Uday Mahurkar, who raised concerns over the unchecked spread of objectionable content on OTT and social media platforms. At the time, the government emphasised the need for stricter regulation without enforcing blanket censorship, stressing that digital platforms have a responsibility to uphold societal standards.

The Supreme Court termed the issue serious and issued notices to major platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, AltBalaji, Ullu, Google, Meta, and Apple. 

This also followed public outrage over explicit online content, including the controversy surrounding YouTuber Samay Raina’s show India’s Got Latent. The government has since directed platforms to implement age-based content filters, classify adult content appropriately, and comply with the IT Rules, 2021.