In a major crackdown on digital obscenity, the Union ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has ordered the blocking of 25 over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including well-known names like Ullu, ALTT, Mojflix, and Desiflix, for publishing obscene, vulgar, and in some cases, pornographic content.
As part of the order, 26 websites and 14 mobile apps were blocked — nine of them on the Google Play Store and five on the Apple App Store.
The full list of banned platforms includes Big Shots App, Gulab App, Wow Entertainment, Look Entertainment, Hitprime, ShowX, Hulchul App, Desiflix, Boomex, NeonX VIP, Navarasa Lite, Kangan App, Bull App, ShowHit, Jalva App, Sol Talkies, Adda TV, MoodX, Triflicks, Fugi, ALTT, Feneo, HotX VIP, Ullu, and Mojflix. These platforms will now be inaccessible within India through both websites and apps, with directions issued to intermediaries to disable access.
According to the ministry, the move was necessary as the content being streamed on these platforms lacked any social message or narrative, and instead relied heavily on sexual innuendos, nudity, and explicit scenes. Several web series on these platforms were also found to depict intimate content within highly inappropriate contexts, including distorted portrayals of family relationships.
The government’s action comes under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT Rules, 2021, and was carried out in consultation with the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA), ministry of women and child development (MWCD), ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY), department of legal affairs, industry associations FICCI and CII and experts from the field of child and women’s rights.
According to the ministry, many of the affected platforms were repeat offenders. Five had already been blocked once in March 2024 but resurfaced with new domain names and continued to distribute obscene material. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had raised concerns last year about the nature of content on platforms like Ullu and ALTT, leading to repeated warnings and advisories.
In February 2025, the ministry had issued an advisory urging OTT platforms to comply with the code of ethics under the IT Rules, but the platforms failed to take corrective action.
Ullu was specifically flagged for repeatedly uploading unedited versions of previously flagged web series. The Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council (DPCGC), a self-regulatory body chaired by a former Supreme Court judge, had reviewed over 100 Ullu titles and found many of them to be 'distasteful and bizarre', with explicit sex and nudity inserted purely to drive viewership. In one instance, the platform was forced to take down the controversial series ‘House Arrest’ in May 2025 after the government intervened.
MIB clarified that many of these platforms operated with little to no moderation and distributed content in clear violation of Indian laws, including Section 67 and 67A of the IT Act, Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. The material being streamed was found to be not only offensive but also harmful, particularly to minors and vulnerable viewers, prompting swift regulatory action.
The government reiterated its commitment to upholding public decency and protecting children and families from online content that violates Indian law and community standards. While encouraging innovation and creative freedom on digital platforms, the ministry stated that such freedoms cannot come at the cost of exploiting loopholes to promote obscenity. Further action may be taken if these or similar platforms attempt to relaunch under new names or formats, MIB added.
