Obscene & Vulgar: 25 OTT Apps Banned

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has said that public access to 25 OTT platforms, including Ullu, ALTT, and Desiflix, will be disabled for streaming obscene and, at times, pornographic content.

The move, according to government sources, targets these platforms for consistently broadcasting content deemed vulgar and inappropriate.

The action was reportedly taken in consultation with the Ministries of Home Affairs and Electronics & Information Technology, the Department of Legal Affairs, industry bodies like FICCI and CII, as well as experts working in the domain of women and child rights.

As part of the directive, content from 26 websites and 14 apps will be blocked under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT Rules, 2021. These apps were reportedly streaming vulgar content from the OTT platforms mentioned above.

This is not the first time platforms like Ullu and ALTT have come under the government’s scanner. In July and August 2024, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) flagged the obscene content streamed by both platforms. For instance, a web series titled House Arrest was taken down by Ullu in May 2025 after intervention by the ministry.

While many agree that these platforms do upload vulgar and soft-porn content, some argue that if the government truly wants to curb such material, Instagram might be the first place to start.

The platform features a significant amount of content that some may consider vulgar or obscene. However, much of it is curated based on user interaction and algorithmic behavior.

Lately, everything works on algorithms, you get what you consume. Hence, the content suggested to a user is often a reflection of their past viewing behavior.

Will the government’s interference help control such content across platforms? That remains to be seen.