Digital cleanup: Indian Government bans ALTT, Ullu, Gulaab & 24 other apps for promoting obscene content

In a firm step to uphold digital decency and curb the circulation of objectionable online content, India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has taken action against 24 websites and mobile applications. These platforms have been found to host and disseminate adult material, including soft pornographic content, prompting regulatory intervention.

The MIB has formally instructed all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) across the country to restrict access to these platforms, thereby preventing Indian users from viewing or interacting with the content in question. The decision was made in line with several legal provisions, indicating that the blocked sites and apps were operating in violation of key Indian statutes and digital content norms.

Some of the platforms now banned include well-known names such as ULLU, ALTT, Boomex, Big Shots App, Desiflix, Gulab App, and Navarasa Lite. These services have been found to contravene multiple legal frameworks, most notably Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. These specific provisions criminalize the electronic transmission of obscene or sexually explicit material.

In addition to the IT Act, the platforms also fall afoul of Section 294 under the newly introduced Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which supersedes the previous Indian Penal Code clause addressing obscene acts and expressions. Moreover, Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, has also been cited. This statute explicitly prohibits offensive or degrading portrayals of women across various forms of media, including digital platforms.

The full list of banned apps includes: Kangan App, Bull App, Jalva App, Wow Entertainment, Look Entertainment, Hitprime, Feneo, ShowX, Sol Talkies, Adda TV, HotX VIP, Hulchul App, MoodX, NeonX VIP, Fugi, Mojflix, Triflicks.

To ensure these directives are effectively implemented, the MIB has also contacted the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), urging it to coordinate with ISPs for strict enforcement. This move reflects the government's growing focus on monitoring digital content to ensure it aligns with Indian laws and societal values.