Modi Government Bans 21 OTT Platforms Including Ullu, ALTT, Rabbit Movies for Obscene Content

In a significant move to curb the spread of explicit and obscene content on digital platforms, the Government of India has banned 21 Over-The-Top (OTT) apps, including popular names like Ullu, ALTT (formerly ALTBalaji), Rabbit Movies, and Prime Play. The decision, taken by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in coordination with the Ministry of Electronics and IT, is part of a wider crackdown on digital content platforms allegedly violating decency standards and India's cyber laws.

The platforms were found to be distributing adult content with little to no content regulation, often bypassing age verification and censorship norms. Several of these apps, the government said, not only violated the IT Rules, 2021, but were also operating outside the jurisdictional compliance of the Indian Cinematograph Act and other digital media guidelines.

🚫 List of OTT Platforms Banned for Obscene Content:

1. Ullu

2. ALTT (ALTBalaji)

3. Desiflix

4. Big Shots

5. Boomex

6. MoodX

7. NeonX VIP

8. Mojflix

9. Triflicks

10. Hulchul App

11. HotX VIP

12. Uncut Adda

13. Besharams

14. Xtramood

15. Chikooflix

16. Fugi

17. Nuefliks

18. Prime Play

19. Hunters

20. Rabbit Movies

21. Voovi

22. X Prime

23. Yessma

24. Dreams Films

25. Hot Shots VIP

(Note: While 21 names were officially mentioned, additional platforms with overlapping or affiliated operations were also identified during the probe.)

Why Were These Platforms Banned?

According to government sources, these platforms:

• Regularly published sexually explicit web series and content that was pornographic in nature, thinly veiled under the genre of adult comedy or romance.

• Were accessible to minors due to inadequate age-verification systems.

• Lacked any content classification or parental control, violating IT Rules, 2021.

• Operated without proper licensing or often hosted on foreign servers to avoid Indian jurisdiction.

• Promoted vulgarity, objectification, and unfiltered nudity, which regulators believe is damaging to societal values and public morality.

The Modi government has, over the past few years, emphasized the need for digital platforms to maintain a healthy cultural ethos and abide by the nation's moral and legal standards. While mainstream OTTs like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar operate under stricter self-regulation codes, many smaller or fringe platforms had begun exploiting regulatory loopholes to stream borderline or outright obscene content.

The bans come in the wake of increasing public and legal pressure to act against digital vulgarity, especially as these platforms became widely accessible during the smartphone and data boom in India.

Authorities have issued notices to telecom and internet service providers to block access to these apps and websites immediately. Any attempt to distribute or mirror the content via alternate URLs or platforms will face further legal action under the IT Act and criminal statutes.

At the same time, the Ministry of I&B is reportedly working on a more robust content classification system and updated digital media regulations that will apply to all OTT players operating in India, regardless of their size or country of origin.