Central Government Cracks Down On 18 OTT Platforms For Hosting 'Obscene And Vulgar' Content
In a significant move, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting , acting under the central government's directives, has imposed a ban on 18 Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms, citing concerns over the hosting of 'obscene and vulgar' content , including pornography. Among the banned platforms are notable names such as Dreams Films, Uncut Adda, and Prime Play, which have been accused of repeatedly flouting regulations despite warnings.
The ban comes in light of alleged violations of various sections of Indian laws , including Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act, Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. According to the Ministry, these platforms were found to portray women in a demeaning manner and showcase explicit sexual content devoid of any societal or thematic relevance.
Highlighting the magnitude of the issue, government sources revealed that one of the banned apps had amassed over 1 crore downloads on the Google Play Store, while two others had over 50 lakh downloads each. Additionally, the collective followership of social media accounts associated with these platforms exceeded 32 lakh users.
In its official statement, the Ministry stated, "A significant portion of the content hosted on these platforms was found to be obscene, vulgar, and portrayed women in a demeaning manner." It further elaborated on instances where content depicted inappropriate relationships such as those between teachers and students, as well as incestuous family dynamics.
To curb the dissemination of such content, the government has taken action not only against the OTT platforms themselves but also against associated websites, apps, and social media accounts. Access to 19 websites, 10 apps, and 57 social media accounts linked to the banned platforms has been blocked nationwide.
The ban encompasses a wide array of OTT platforms, including Dreams Films, Uncut Adda, Prime Play, and others such as Voovi, Yessma, and Tri Flicks. With this crackdown, the government aims to uphold regulatory standards and protect viewers from exposure to harmful and objectionable content online.
The ban comes in light of alleged violations of various sections of Indian laws , including Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act, Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. According to the Ministry, these platforms were found to portray women in a demeaning manner and showcase explicit sexual content devoid of any societal or thematic relevance.
Highlighting the magnitude of the issue, government sources revealed that one of the banned apps had amassed over 1 crore downloads on the Google Play Store, while two others had over 50 lakh downloads each. Additionally, the collective followership of social media accounts associated with these platforms exceeded 32 lakh users.
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In its official statement, the Ministry stated, "A significant portion of the content hosted on these platforms was found to be obscene, vulgar, and portrayed women in a demeaning manner." It further elaborated on instances where content depicted inappropriate relationships such as those between teachers and students, as well as incestuous family dynamics.
To curb the dissemination of such content, the government has taken action not only against the OTT platforms themselves but also against associated websites, apps, and social media accounts. Access to 19 websites, 10 apps, and 57 social media accounts linked to the banned platforms has been blocked nationwide.
The ban encompasses a wide array of OTT platforms, including Dreams Films, Uncut Adda, Prime Play, and others such as Voovi, Yessma, and Tri Flicks. With this crackdown, the government aims to uphold regulatory standards and protect viewers from exposure to harmful and objectionable content online.
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