Centre blocks 18 OTT platforms for ‘obscene, vulgar & pornographic’ content

NEW DELHI: The union ministry of information & broadcasting initiated a significant crackdown on Thursday (March 14), blocking access to 18 OTT platforms known for disseminating “obscene, vulgar and, in some cases, pornographic content”.

“Nineteen websites, ten apps (seven on Google Play Store, three on Apple App Store), and fifty-seven social media accounts associated with these platforms have been disabled for public access in India,” announced the ministry.

The targeted platforms include 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.

Highlighting the rationale behind the crackdown, the ministry stated, “A significant portion of the content hosted on these platforms was found to be obscene, vulgar, and depicted women in a demeaning manner.”

It noted instances of nudity, sexual acts, and inappropriate portrayals, such as relationships between teachers and students or incestuous family dynamics.

Moreover, the content was observed to contain sexual innuendos and prolonged segments of pornographic and sexually explicit scenes devoid of any thematic or societal relevance.

Such content was deemed prima facie in violation of 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.

Union minister Anurag Singh Thakur reiterated the responsibility of these platforms to refrain from propagating obscenity, vulgarity, and abuse under the guise of “creative expression”.