India Blocks 25 OTT Platforms Over Lewd Content; Crackdown on Gambling Sites Also Intensifies

The move, aimed at curbing the spread of objectionable material online, was carried out by directing Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to disable access to these platforms.

According to a report, the banned platforms include ALTT, ULLU, Big Shots app, Desiflix, Boomex, Navarasa Lite, Gulab app, Kangan app, Bull app, Jalva app, Wow Entertainment, Look Entertainment, Hitprime, Feneo, ShowX, Sol Talkies, Adda TV, HotX VIP, Hulchul app, MoodX, NeonX VIP, Fugi, Mojflix, and Triflicks.

The government stated that the content on these platforms violated several legal provisions, including Section 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which deal with the publishing of obscene material online, and Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. They were also found to be in breach of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.

Under the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, platforms are obligated to remove unlawful content and comply with government directives. Failure to do so strips them of legal protection under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act.

Additionally, in a parallel move against illegal digital activities, the government informed Parliament that 1,524 online betting, gambling, and gaming websites and apps have been blocked from 2022 to June 2025. Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Jitin Prasada, confirmed that these actions were taken to curb illegal online gambling.

These steps highlight India’s stricter enforcement of digital content regulation and efforts to protect public decency and online safety.