Government Shuts Down 18 OTT Platforms for Obscene Content
Nationwide, authorities blocked 19 websites, 10 apps, and 57 social media handles affiliated with OTT platforms due to regulatory concerns
Sumit Rawat
In a sweeping move, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B), in conjunction with various intermediaries, has cracked down on 18 Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms for disseminating obscene and vulgar content. This decision comes in response to growing concerns over the proliferation of explicit material on digital platforms.
A total of 19 websites, along with 10 apps (7 on Google Play Store and 3 on Apple App Store), and 57 associated social media accounts have been disabled for public access across India. Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Anurag Singh Thakur, has stressed the platforms' responsibility to curb obscenity and abuse, masquerading under the guise of 'creative expression'.
Highlighting the magnitude of the crackdown, Thakur announced the shutdown of these platforms on March 12, 2024, under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The decision was made after extensive consultations with other ministries, domain experts in media and entertainment, women's rights, and child rights.
The list of blocked OTT platforms includes prominent names such as Dreams Films, Voovi, Yessma, Uncut Adda, and more. One app alone amassed over one crore downloads, while others had significant followings.
These platforms actively used social media to attract users, with a cumulative followership exceeding 32 lakh. Notably, accounts associated with these platforms were blocked on various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (now X), and YouTube.
The content hosted on these platforms was found to be egregiously obscene, often depicting women in demeaning roles and portraying explicit sexual acts. Such content violates several sections of the IT Act, IPC, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
In response to queries, the Ministry of I&B reiterated its commitment to sensitizing OTT platforms regarding content regulations through various means, including meetings and webinars. It emphasized fostering the growth of the OTT industry while maintaining a regulatory framework to ensure responsible content dissemination.
Despite these measures, concerns persist regarding the unchecked proliferation of explicit material on digital platforms, prompting the government to take decisive action to safeguard societal values and norms.
