Government Blocks 18 OTT Platforms Over Obscene Content Despite Warnings

In a decisive move, the government has taken action against 18 over-the-top (OTT) platforms for disseminating obscene and pornographic content, despite repeated warnings. This crackdown also extends to 19 associated websites, 10 applications (seven on Google Play Store and three on Apple App Store), and 57 social media accounts linked to these platforms, as announced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) on Thursday.

The decision to block these platforms comes after they were cautioned against promoting obscenity, vulgarity, and abuse under the guise of “creative expression.” Acting under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, of 2000, the government deemed it necessary to intervene and curb the dissemination of objectionable content.

The list of OTT platforms that have been blocked includes Dreams Films, Voovi, Yessma, Uncut Adda, Tri Flicks, X Prime, Neon X VIP, Besharams, Hunters, Rabbit, Xtramood, Nuefliks, MoodX, Mojflix, Hot Shots VIP, Fugi, Chikooflix, and Prime Play.

According to the government’s statement, a significant portion of the content on these platforms portrayed women in a demeaning manner, often depicting nudity and sexual acts in inappropriate contexts such as relationships between teachers and students or incestuous family relationships.

Furthermore, the content included sexual innuendos and prolonged segments of pornographic and sexually explicit scenes devoid of any thematic or societal relevance, justifying the blocking of these platforms.

The government highlighted the extensive reach of these OTT platforms, with one app boasting over 1 crore downloads and two others amassing over 50 lakh downloads. Additionally, the associated social media accounts had a combined followership of over 32 lakh users.

These platforms leveraged social media extensively to disseminate trailers, specific scenes, and external links aimed at attracting audiences to their websites and applications, further exacerbating the issue.

This crackdown underscores the government’s commitment to upholding moral standards and safeguarding citizens, particularly the youth, from exposure to harmful and inappropriate content. As the digital landscape evolves, such actions serve as a reminder of the need for responsible content creation and dissemination in the online sphere.