The Indian government has blocked 50 over-the-top (OTT) platforms over the last two years for hosting obscene content, Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament on July 22. The action was taken under multiple legal provisions including the Information Technology Act and the Indecent Representation of Women Act, as part of efforts to curb digital addiction among children.
Minister Vaishnaw responded to a question from BJP MP Sambit Patra regarding digital addiction's impact on children. He cited violations of Sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act, Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. The government’s authority to block content stems from Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, which empowers it to direct intermediaries to remove or restrict access to unlawful content. Recent amendments to the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, require intermediaries to act within three hours of receiving court orders or government directions.
This move highlights the government’s increasing regulatory oversight of digital content, particularly OTT platforms, amid concerns over child safety and digital addiction. The Economic Survey 2025-26 described digital addiction as a serious public health challenge, underscoring the rationale behind stricter enforcement. The blocking of 50 platforms over two years signals a sustained effort to enforce content standards and protect vulnerable users in India’s expanding digital media landscape.
The government’s statement on July 22 marks a significant update on digital content regulation, with the next parliamentary session expected to discuss further measures addressing online safety. The enforcement framework now mandates rapid content removal by intermediaries, reinforcing the government’s commitment to curbing unlawful digital content.