OTT App Banned in India: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, on Friday, ordered a ban on 25 apps and websites promoting sexually explicit and objectionable content on their platforms. The list of apps and websites that have been banned under this order include AltBalaji, also known as ALTT, ULLU among others. After this ban, all internet service providers in the country have been ordered to block access to the 14 apps and 26 websites that were reportedly streaming adult content.
As per MIB, the 25 websites and apps continued to “publish obscene, in some cases pornographic content” even after they were told to cease such content in September 2024.
List of 25 apps and websites that have been banned by MIB for promoting adult content
ULLU and ALTBalaji
ULLU’s content was repeatedly being flagged as it was seen as obscene and objectionable. Earlier this year, a show called House Arrest, hosted by Ajaz Khan, was pulled down from the streaming platform because of its sexually explicit content. ULLU was launched in 2018 and founded by Vibhu Agarwal. As soon as it launched, ULLU started differentiating itself from other websites by promoting its bold content. The company had filed papers for Rs 135-150 crore IPO back in 2024 but it appears that this never materialised.
As per MIB, action was taken against ULLU by Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council (DPCGC), a self-regulatory body headed by former judge of the Supreme Court of India. Reportedly, 100 web series from the app were removed but it was found that the platform would re-upload the objectionable videos and episodes after some time.
Ekta Kapoor’s ALTBalaji was notorious for producing shows with adult themes and presenting sexually explicit content. In 2024, Ekta and her was her mother Shobha Kapoor were booked under POCSO Act for allegedly showing inappropriate scenes involving minor girls in an episode Gandi Baat. DPCGC found that the platform carried “distasteful and bizarre, where sex and nudity was shown without any contextual justification just to augment viewership.”
Other banned apps and websites
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Big Shots App, Jalva App, Wow Entertainment, Look Entertainment, Hitprime, Feneo, ShowX, Sol Talkies, Kangan App, Bull App, Adda TV, HotX VIP, Desiflix, Boomex, Navarasa Lite, Gulab App, Fugi, Mojflix, Hulchul App, Mood, NeonX VIP, Triflicks
These apps and websites were notorious for creating web series and films with minimal budgets, and creating obscene and sexually explicit content. Most of the content created by these websites was available for free on their social media handles, and their websites.
In April, Supreme Court responded to a petition calling for a ban on sexually explicit content that was available on OTT platforms. They said, “It’s not our domain, you do something.” As per PTI, the plea said, “Such sexually deviant material pollute the minds of youth, children and even grown up persons which gives rise to perverted and unnatural sexual tendencies thereby leading to an increase in the crime rate.” It added, “It is the need of the hour that the state must uphold its constitutional duty to safeguard public morality, protect vulnerable populations, and ensure that the digital space does not become a breeding ground for deviant behaviour.”
