The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) today blocked eighteen OTT platforms at one go. The ban was imposed on the grounds that the platforms have been promoting obscene and vulgar content, including pornographic content.
In a statement, the government observed that the platforms have a huge traction. Their shows and films show content involving incestuous family relationships, affairs between female teachers and male students, etc. "The content inluced sexual innuendos and, in some instances, prolonged segments of pornographic and sexually explicit scenes devoid of any thematic and societal relevance," the government notification said.
The OTT platforms have been accused of violating provisions under the IT Act, the IPC, and the Indecent Represention of Women (Prohibition) Act.
In all, seven apps have been removed from the Google Play Store. Three other apps have been removed from the Apple App Store. As many as fifty seven social media handles with a combined traction of 35 lakh followers were removed from Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.
