In a firm effort to curb the circulation of illegal and obscene material on the internet, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued a directive instructing all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) across India to block access to 24 specific websites and mobile applications. These platforms were found to be hosting content deemed to violate several Indian laws as well as established standards of digital conduct.
The MIB’s order, which aims to crack down on vulgar and sexually explicit material online, targets platforms that allegedly distribute obscene, adult, and soft pornographic content. The list of banned sites includes popular names like ALTT, ULLU, Big Shots App, Desiflix, Boomex, Navarasa Lite, and Gulab App, among others.
The government cited violations under multiple legal frameworks, including Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which criminalize the electronic transmission of obscene or sexually explicit material. Additionally, Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 India’s updated criminal code replacing the Indian Penal Code was invoked for obscene acts in public.
The platforms were also found to be in breach of Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, which prohibits the portrayal of women in an indecent manner across various forms of media and advertising.
To ensure effective enforcement of the ban, the MIB has coordinated with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). A formal request was sent to the Director (DS-II) of the DoT to facilitate cooperation with ISPs so that access to these websites and applications is thoroughly restricted within Indian territory.
This move reflects the government’s growing emphasis on digital responsibility and its commitment to protect users from harmful and inappropriate content online.
(With inputs from Free Press Journal)
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