New Delhi:
In a significant move aimed at curbing the dissemination of obscene content, the Government of India has enforced the closure of 18 Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms along with their associated social media accounts.
These platforms were found to be showcasing objectionable material,
prompting swift action from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
According to a PTI report, a total of 19 websites, 10 apps, and 57 social media accounts linked to these platforms have been blocked within India.
Among the blocked apps, 7 were available on the Google Play Store, while 3 were accessible via the Apple App Store.
Platforms Affected by the Ban:
The following OTT platforms have faced action:
- Dreams Films
- Voovi
- Yessma
- Uncut There
- Tri Flicks
- X Prime
- Neon X VIP
- Besharams
- Hunters
- Rabbit
- Xtramood
- Nuefliks
- MoodX
- Mojflix
- Hot Shots VIP
- run
- Chikooflix
Prime Play
Rationale Behind the Decision:
The decision to implement such stringent measures stemmed from the discovery of obscene and derogatory content across a large portion of these platforms.
The content depicted women in a demeaning light and was laden with vulgarity. Disturbing portrayals of inappropriate relationships, including those between teachers and students, and within families, were also noted.
Significance of the Action:
It is notable that one of the OTT apps subjected to the ban had amassed over 1 crore downloads,
while two others had been downloaded more than 50 lakh times from the Google Play Store.
These platforms utilized scenes of a sensational nature on their associated social media platforms to attract audiences,
thereby raising concerns about the potential impact on viewers.
