REGULATORY · INDIA
India blocks five OTT platforms under IT Rules/Section 69A over obscenity
Change
India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting blocked access to five OTT platforms—MoodXVIP, Koyal Playpro, Digi Movieplex, Feel, and Jugnu—on February 24, 2026 for streaming obscene content, directing ISPs to restrict access under the IT Rules 2021 and Section 69A of the IT Act.
Why it matters
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting executed a platform-level block of five named OTT services, with ISPs instructed to block access following the government’s stated procedure. The cited legal basis (IT Rules 2021 and Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000) indicates the enforcement mechanism is administrative blocking rather than content-by-content takedowns. For OTT publishers/distributors, the change is a confirmed escalation to service-wide access loss when content is deemed obscene. For network intermediaries, the order creates an immediate compliance obligation to implement access restrictions. The move also increases operational uncertainty for smaller or niche OTT services whose catalogs may trigger obscenity scrutiny.
Implications
- • Immediate loss of access to the five OTT services via Indian ISPs
- • Higher platform-level blocking exposure for OTT services with similar content
- • ISPs face binding implementation/compliance requirements for access blocks
- • Distribution and monetization disruption for affected OTT operators and partners
Who is affected
- • Blocked OTT platforms: MoodXVIP, Koyal Playpro, Digi Movieplex, Feel, Jugnu
- • Internet service providers implementing government blocking directions
- • OTT platforms and aggregators distributing adult/obscenity-adjacent content
- • Advertisers, payment partners, and content licensors tied to the blocked services
Source
Read full article on The Hindu →
Topics
World & Politics Policy & Regulation Law & Public Safety Regulatory Actions Compliance