The Government of India has taken decisive action by blocking access to five OTT (Over‑the‑Top) streaming platforms after finding that they were streaming obscene and objectionable content that violated India’s wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>digital media and IT regulations.
This enforcement was carried out by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), in line with the legal framework in the Information technology Act, 2000 and Information technology (Intermediary Guidelines and wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>digital media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
📺 Which Platforms Were Banned?
The five OTT platforms that have been blocked from operating or streaming content in India are:
- MoodXVIP
- Koyal Playpro
- Digi Movieplex
- Feel
- Jugnu
These platforms have been removed from access on indian networks, and many were also taken down from app stores like the google Play Store following the ban.
⚖️ Legal Basis for the Ban
The government relied on provisions of the IT Act and IT Rules to justify the action:
- Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000 gives the government the power to block access to online content for security, public policy, obscenity, and other reasons.
- IT Rules, 2021 (Rule 3(1)(b)) set out content standards and ethics code for wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>digital media, including restrictions on obscene or sexually explicit material.
Authorities say these platforms repeatedly violated these rules by publishing material that lacked age‑appropriate checks and contained explicit content.
🧾 Why the government Took Action
Officials noted several reasons for the ban:
🔎 Streaming Obscene or Explicit Content
The blocked platforms were found to host pornographic, sexually explicit, or objectionable material without proper age verification or moderation controls — which runs afoul of India’s content rules.
⚖️ Violations of Multiple Laws
Many programs available on these OTT services were said to violate:
- Section 67A of the IT Act (prohibits publishing sexually explicit material in electronic form)
- Section 292 of the indian Penal Code (relates to obscene publications)
- The Indecent Representation of women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
🚫 Non‑Compliance After Warnings
The government had previously issued warnings and notices to various wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>digital platforms about complying with the ethics code, but these particular services reportedly continued to publish objectionable content.
📡 How the Ban Is Enforced
Once the I&B Ministry ordered the ban:
- Internet service Providers (ISPs) were directed to block access to the identified platforms on their networks.
- The platforms were removed from app stores to prevent further downloads.
This means users in india cannot access these OTT services anymore through regular means.
🔁 Part of a Broader Regulatory Push
This action is part of an ongoing government effort to regulate online streaming and wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>digital content more strictly:
- Last year, authorities banned a larger set of OTT apps and websites for similar reasons.
- There has been growing debate about wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>digital content standards, age‑appropriate labeling, and ethics codes for streaming platforms across India.
📌 What This Means for Users and Platforms
📍 For Viewers
- Users who previously streamed shows on these platforms will no longer be able to access them in India.
- There’s no change for major licensed OTT services like Netflix, amazon Prime Video, or Disney+ Hotstar, which operate under different compliance requirements.
📍 For wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>digital Platforms
- This action underscores the importance of adhering to India’s digital content rules and self‑regulatory guidelines to avoid enforcement action.
- Platforms must ensure age verification, content moderation, and ethics compliance under the IT Rules, 2021.
🧠 Final Summary
The indian government has blocked five OTT platforms — MoodXVIP, Koyal Playpro, Digi Movieplex, Feel, and Jugnu — for repeatedly violating wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>digital content regulations by distributing obscene or explicit material without adequate safeguards. This enforcement was carried out under the IT Act and associated content rules, with the aim to uphold public decency and legal compliance online.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, organization, employer, or company. All information provided is for general informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information contained herein. Readers are advised to verify facts and seek professional advice where necessary. Any reliance placed on such information is strictly at the reader’s own risk.
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