The Indian government has cracked down on 18 Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms and associated apps for disseminating obscene and vulgar content. This move, spearheaded by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur, underscores the government's commitment to ensuring responsible content dissemination in the digital sphere.
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, a total of 18 OTT platforms, 19 websites, and 10 apps (seven on Google Play Store and three on Apple App Store) have been blocked for public access due to the dissemination of objectionable content. Additionally, 57 social media accounts linked to these platforms have also been disabled.
Minister Thakur emphasized the platforms' obligation to refrain from promoting obscenity, vulgarity, and abuse under the guise of 'creative expression'. The decision to take action against these platforms was made in compliance with the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000. It followed consultations with various ministries, departments of the government, and domain experts specializing in media and entertainment, women's rights, and child rights.
The affected platforms include 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, and Prime Play.
This decisive action by the government underscores its commitment to ensuring a safe and appropriate digital environment for Indian audiences. It also serves as a reminder to content providers of the importance of adhering to regulatory standards and ethical guidelines in their content creation and dissemination practices.
