Government bans Ektaa Kapoor's ALTT, other platforms for 'objectionable' content
What's the story
The Indian government has reportedly banned several streaming applications and websites, including Vibhu Agarwal-founded Ullu and Ektaa Kapoor's ALTT. The ban was imposed for displaying content that is considered "objectionable." This move is part of a larger initiative to regulate digital content in the country. The decision by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has sparked debates over censorship and the balance between creative freedom and societal norms.
Regulatory measures
Big Shots App, Desiflix, Boomex, Navarasa Lite under radar
As per the notification accessed by the media on Friday, MIB directed all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to disable public access to at least 25 such websites. Apart from ULLU and ALTT, platforms like Big Shots App, Desiflix, Boomex, Navarasa Lite, Gulab App, MoodX, Hulchul App, Fugi, Mojflix, Triflicks, and more have been mentioned. These apps have been blocked for promoting and displaying soft pornographic content.
Reason
'There was hardly any storyline, theme, or message'
The ministry noted that the media carried by these OTT platforms had sexual innuendos and in some cases "long portions of sexually explicit scenes involving nudity, thereby being pornographic in nature." "There was hardly any storyline, theme, or message in a social context. A large portion of the content was obscene and vulgar," it said.
Law
Content violated several provisions under IT Act, BNS
Authorities found that the content was in violation of provisions under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (Sections 67 and 67A), Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. While IT Act's Sections 67 and 67A deal with the publishing/transmission of obscene/sexually explicit material in electronic form, the BNS's Section 294 is concerned with obscene acts and songs. The 1986 Act prohibits indecent representation of women through media.