New Delhi, India – The Indian Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has taken decisive action, banning 18 over-the-top (OTT) streaming platforms for distributing content deemed obscene, vulgar, and in some cases, pornographic. The ban includes popular platforms like Uncut Adda, Dreams Films, and Prime Play.
The government has also disabled 19 websites, 10 apps, and 57 associated social media accounts connected to these platforms. This move comes after repeated warnings were issued to the platforms to remove the objectionable content.
Legal Basis for the Ban
The ban cites multiple legal violations under the Information Technology Act (Sections 67 and 67A), the Indian Penal Code (Section 292), and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act of 1986.
Reasons for Government Action
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting stated the content on these platforms was often sexually explicit, portraying women in a demeaning light and containing inappropriate themes such as teacher-student relationships and incest.
Popularity of Banned Apps
Some of the banned apps had amassed significant download numbers. One had over 1 crore (10 million) downloads on the Google Play Store and two others had more than 50 lakh (5 million) downloads each. The associated social media accounts had a combined following of over 32 lakh (3.2 million) users.
List of Blocked Social Media Accounts
Among the blocked social media accounts are 12 Facebook accounts, 17 Instagram accounts, 16 X (formerly Twitter) accounts, and 12 YouTube accounts linked to the OTT apps.
List of Banned OTT Apps
- 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
- Prime Play
