In an effort to stem access to illegal and explicit online content, the Indian government has ordered Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block 25 Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms from public access. Some of the platforms in the line of fire include some well-known names like Ullu, ALTT, and Desiflix.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) released an official notice emphasizing the lawful obligation of the intermediaries to ban or delete unlawful content as per the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
The move follows as part of an overall campaign to prevent the spread of content that is deemed sexually explicit and contrary to Indian cultural and legal standards. The apps at risk of ban are a combination of lesser known and emerging apps like Big Shots App, Boomex, 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.
These websites were also found in violation of various laws, such as Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
The government clarified that ISPs have been instructed to immediately block users' access to the above-mentioned sites within Indian territory.
As per reports from the media, "MIB has also informed the Director (DS-II), Department of Telecommunications, with a request to enable compliance by the ISPs," thus reaffirming the government's focus on maintaining digital content standards and facilitating enforcement of the country's cyber laws.
This comes after an April hearing in the Supreme Court, where a plea had asked for a ban on sexually explicit content over OTT and social media platforms. While the bench observed, "It's not our domain, you do something," they also recognized the need for executive action. The Solicitor General, in turn, pointed out that current rules were already in place and additional regulatory steps were being entertained.
