India Blocks 50 OTT Platforms Over Two Years
The Indian government has blocked 50 Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming platforms in the last two years, citing allegations of hosting obscene content. The action was confirmed by the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology.
India has blocked access to 50 Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming platforms over the past two years due to alleged hosting of obscene content. Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament of the action on July 22.
The platforms were blocked for violating various laws, including Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, and other relevant legislation. The government acts against unlawful online content under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, which allows authorities to direct intermediaries to remove or restrict access to such content, Vaishnaw stated.
These measures are part of the government's response to concerns about digital addiction among children. The blocking orders align with updated IT Rules that mandate intermediaries to remove unlawful content within three hours of receiving a government directive. This is in addition to ongoing efforts to promote cyber safety and address digital addiction.
The figure of 50 blocked platforms represents an increase from previous disclosures. In July 2025, 25 platforms were blocked, followed by five more in February 2026. A parliamentary committee had also noted that 10 to 15 additional platforms were under review.