India Blocked 50 OTT Platforms in Two Years, Govt Says
The Union Government has blocked 50 OTT platforms from public access in India over the last two years for allegedly hosting obscene content. The platforms were blocked for violating several laws, including Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology (IT) Act.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
The Indian government has blocked 50 OTT platforms in the last two years for hosting obscene content, citing various laws including the Information Technology (IT) Act. This move is part of the government's efforts to address digital addiction among children.
The Indian government has blocked 50 online TV and movie platforms because they were showing bad or naughty content. This is to protect children from seeing things they shouldn't.
Analysis
A Series of Blocking Orders
The latest figure marks an increase from previous disclosures by the government. In July 2025, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) blocked 25 OTT platforms over allegations of hosting obscene content. The ministry later ordered the blocking of five more platforms in February 2026. These included MoodXVIP, Koyal Playpro, Digi Movieplex, Feel and Jugnu. A Parliamentary Standing Committee report released in March 2026 said another 10 to 15 OTT platforms were under examination. It also noted that the government continued to issue blocking orders.
Regulatory Debate Continues
The same committee also said there was a regulatory gap for online media platforms. The report noted that the ministry was working on broader regulatory measures for online platforms. It also recommended a structured grievance redress mechanism for online and OTT content. The committee suggested integrating Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act with existing civil remedies. The issue has also reached the Supreme Court. In April 2025, the court issued notices to OTT platforms, including Netflix, Amazon, Ullu, ALT Balaji, Apple and Mubi. It also sent notices to social media companies over concerns relating to obscene online content. Separately, the government issued an advisory in December 2025 asking intermediaries to curb the circulation of obscene, pornographic and other unlawful content online.
Key points
- The Indian government has blocked 50 OTT platforms in the last two years for hosting obscene content.
- The platforms were blocked for violating several laws, including Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology (IT) Act.
- The government's efforts to regulate online content are part of its efforts to address digital addiction among children.
- A Parliamentary Standing Committee report has recommended a structured grievance redress mechanism for online and OTT content.
- The issue has reached the Supreme Court, which has issued notices to OTT platforms and social media companies over concerns related to obscene online content.
The government's efforts to regulate online content may lead to a safer and more responsible online environment for children. This could also lead to the development of more family-friendly content on OTT platforms.
The blocking of OTT platforms may lead to a restriction on freedom of expression and access to information. This could also lead to a lack of transparency and accountability in the government's decision-making process.
