India Moves to Clean Up OTT: Government Bans 25 Apps, Including ALT Balaji and Ullu, Over Obscene Content

In a significant move earlier today, the Government of India announced a sweeping ban on 25 OTT platforms and apps, including popular names like Ekta Kapoor’s ALT Balaji and Ullu. The government says these apps were consistently streaming obscene and objectionable content under the guise of entertainment.

The Ministry has directed all internet service providers to block these apps and their associated websites immediately. According to officials, the banned platforms were found circulating sexually explicit and pornographic material, which violates existing Indian laws and digital content regulations.

Among the banned platforms are Desi Flix, BMX, NonX VIP, NRS Lite, Gulab App, Kangan App, Bull App, Show Hit, Jalwa App, W Entertainment, Look Entertainment, Hip Prime, Fogi, Fono, Shox, Sol Talkies, AD TV, ALT Balaji, HotX VIP, Hulchul App, MDX, Trifix, Ullu, and MJflix. Authorities identified 25 links where explicit and prohibited content was published and circulated.

This crackdown is not the first attempt to regulate explicit OTT content. In September 2024, all of these apps had already received official notices to remove obscene content, but most failed to comply. In many cases, platforms temporarily removed web series only to restore them later, unedited. After government warnings, Ullu reportedly pulled down over 100 web series, but investigations revealed this to be a temporary gesture.

The government’s statement also noted that some previously blocked platforms re-emerged under new domains, continuing to distribute pornographic content, demonstrating a coordinated attempt to bypass legal restrictions.

This move has caused a stir in the Indian film and entertainment industry. The debate about censorship, creative freedom, and the responsibility of OTT platforms is once again in the spotlight. Many remember how, back in 2021, the industry first faced such scrutiny when actress Shilpa Shetty’s husband, Raj Kundra, was arrested for operating the OTT platform “Hotshots” that allegedly distributed pornographic content.

This newest crackdown marks the biggest action since the Raj Kundra case and underscores the government’s commitment to tackling digital obscenity on OTT platforms. As India grapples with the question of creative freedom versus regulation, the impact of this ban on online entertainment will be closely watched.