Massive Crackdown on Digital Platforms for Obscene Content

In a significant move to curb the spread of obscene and vulgar content online, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has blocked a total of 18 streaming platforms, 19 websites, 10 apps, and 57 social media accounts. The decisive action comes under various sections of the Indian legal framework, including the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, and sections of the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act, 2000. The blocked entities, including platforms like Besharams, Hunters, and Dream Films, were reportedly engaged in the production and distribution of sexually explicit material, depicting content that was deemed to undermine societal values and portray women in a demeaning manner.

The ministry’s stringent measures follow the discovery of content that included nudity, sexual acts, and innuendos across these platforms, often presented in inappropriate contexts. This content, according to MIB’s statement, lacked any thematic or societal relevance, merely aiming to depict sex and nudity. The crackdown has led to the blocking of popular apps on Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store, some of which boasted over 10 million downloads. Additionally, the social media presence related to these platforms, with a following exceeding 3.2 million users, has been dismantled.

This action is not unprecedented, as a self-regulatory board under the IT Rules had previously taken similar steps against another streaming platform, Ullu, for obscenity. These measures highlight the government’s commitment to ensuring digital spaces do not become hotbeds for content that can adversely affect public morals and decency, reinforcing the principle that freedom of speech and expression comes with certain responsibilities and limits.

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