50 OTT Platforms Blocked in Two Years for Obscene Content: Government
The Union government informed the Lok Sabha on July 22, 2026, that 50 Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms have been disabled for public access in India over the last two years. The action was taken for allegedly displaying obscene and sexually explicit content in violation of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and other applicable laws.
The legal framework for OTT platforms includes the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media, Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, notified under the IT Act. Part-III of these Rules provides a Code of Ethics for digital news publishers and OTT platforms. Recent amendments mandate that intermediaries remove unlawful content within three hours of receiving a court order or government intimation.
Other relevant laws include Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, which strips intermediaries of 'safe harbour' immunity if they fail to expeditiously remove unlawful content after a court order or government notification. Sections 67, 67A, and 67B of the IT Act prescribe punishments for transmitting obscene material, sexually explicit content, and child sexual abuse material, respectively. The BNS, 2023, also criminalises obscene content under Section 294, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, prohibits such acts.
Enforcement actions have escalated over time. In February 2026, five OTT platforms were blocked. In July 2025, 25 platforms were blocked after consultations with multiple ministries and experts. Among the blocked platforms were Big Shots App, Desiflix, Boomex, NeonX VIP, and Ullu. In March 2024, 18 platforms were blocked, along with 19 websites, 10 apps, and 57 social media handles linked to them. The government noted that one OTT app had over 1 crore downloads on the Google Play Store, and two others had over 50 lakh downloads.
The government's action is part of a broader effort to enforce compliance with digital content regulations, following references from the National Commission on Protection of Child Rights and public complaints.
