Government Bans 18 Online Platforms, 19 Websites, 10 Apps, and 57 Social Media Accounts for Showing Bad Stuff

The government has banned 18 OTT platforms, 19 websites, 10 apps, and 57 social media accounts for displaying obscene and pornographic content.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) worked with different partners to stop 18 OTT platforms from showing inappropriate, rude, and sometimes adult content. They also disabled 19 websites, 10 apps (7 on Google Play Store, 3 on Apple App Store), and 57 social media accounts linked to these platforms in India.

The Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Anurag Singh Thakur, has stressed that platforms shouldn't spread bad or rude content by calling it 'creative expression'. On March 12, 2024, Thakur stated that 18 OTT platforms showing inappropriate and rude content had been shut down.

The statement also mentioned that the recent choice was made according to the Information Technology Act of 2000, after discussing with other Indian government ministries and experts in media, entertainment, women's rights, and child rights.

The list of banned OTT platforms:

1) Dreams Films

2) Voovi

3) Yessma

4) Uncut Adda

5) Tri Flicks

6) X Prime

7) Neon X VIP

8) Besharams

9) Hunters

10) Rabbit

11) Xtramood

12) Nuefliks

13) MoodX

14) Mojflix

15) Hot Shots VIP

16) Fugi

17) Chikooflix

18) Prime Play

Number of Social Media Accounts Banned on Popular Platforms

Facebook	12
Instagram	17
X (formerly Twitter)	16
YouTube	12

The government stated that the content on these platforms was rude, offensive, and showed women in a disrespectful way. It contained sexual hints and, sometimes, long scenes of explicit sexual acts without any importance to society or any meaningful theme.

Broadcasting this content breaks the law under Sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act, Section 292 of the IPC, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, the release stated.

Among the banned OTT platforms, one had approximately 10 million downloads, and two others had nearly 5 million downloads each on the Google Play Store. "These OTT platforms heavily used social media to share trailers, particular scenes, and links to attract people to their websites and apps. The social media accounts of these OTT platforms had a total of over 3 million followers."

The Ministry of I&B regularly works to raise awareness with OTT platforms and their self-regulatory bodies set up under the IT Rules, 2021, using meetings, webinars, workshops, and similar events, according to the statement.

The Indian Government is dedicated to supporting the progress and advancement of the OTT industry. Various steps have been taken for this purpose, such as introducing the First OTT Award for Web Series at the 54th International Film Festival of India, working together with OTT platforms in the media and entertainment field, and setting up a flexible regulatory system focusing on self-regulation under the IT Rules, 2021, the release mentioned.