In recent times, the surge of OTT content has been undeniable. With a plethora of films and web series releasing on these platforms, new ones seem to be popping up every day to cater to the growing audience base. However, a recurring issue with these platforms has been the lack of censorship on the content they host. Now, the government has stepped in to address this concern by banning 18 OTT (Over-The-Top) platforms due to the display of explicit content.
The government has taken a strict stance against several OTT platforms notorious for streaming objectionable content, along with blocking 57 social media handles, 19 websites, and 10 apps due to inappropriate content.
Banned 18 OTT Platforms
- Dreams Films
- Voovi
- Yessma
- Uncut Adda
- Tri Flicks
- X Prime
- Neon X VIP
- MoodX
- Besharams
- Hunters
- Rabbit
- Xtramood
- Nuefliks
- Mojflix
- Hot Shots VIP
- Fugi
- Chikooflix
- Prime Play
Social Media Accounts Banned
Additionally, the government has banned 12 Facebook accounts, 17 Instagram accounts, 16 Twitter accounts, and 12 YouTube accounts.
Reasons for the Ban
The decision to ban these platforms came after numerous complaints and discussions held during a meeting of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on March 12. The government cited reasons such as the display of explicit content, disrespectful portrayal of women, depiction of inappropriate relationships between students and teachers, and misrepresentation of familial relationships.
Regulations
Under the Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules 2021, OTT platforms are required to adhere to content classification, age ratings, and self-regulation. Violation of these rules could lead to action under sections 67, 67A, and 67B of the Information Technology Act.
As the government takes steps to regulate content on OTT platforms and other digital mediums, users are urged to be vigilant about the content they consume and the platforms they support.