The Indian Government has blocked 25 streaming apps for showing bold and unsafe content. These platforms had many users in India.
Some users even paid money to watch these shows. The government’s step aims to stop content that is not safe for all audiences. This action marks a big change in India’s online content rules.
Key Takeaways:
- The Indian Government banned 25 apps for unsafe adult content.
- Top platforms Ullu and ALTT faced major restrictions.
- Enforcing bans is tough due to app rebranding and APKs.
Also Read: TikTok is Back on Google and Apple App Stores After Facing Ban!
Why the Government Banned These Apps
The apps were banned under the IT Act 2000 and IT Rules 2021. They were found sharing adult content without age filters or warnings. Platforms like Ullu and ALTT were among those removed. Many users complained about harmful and unsafe videos. Child safety groups also raised concerns.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting took action after these complaints. It reached out to Google, Apple, and internet providers to block these apps. Some apps were still working online even after the ban. This was because they were not on app stores but offered downloads through APK files on websites.
These apps used multiple ways to stay active. This made it hard for authorities to completely block them.
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Ullu and ALTT Faced the Biggest Action
Two of the biggest names affected were Ullu and ALTT.
ALTT, run by Balaji Telefilms, was very popular. In 2025, it earned ₹202.6 million. It had 1.06 million new users and got 160 million views that year. By July, ALTT’s app was removed from all app stores. Its website was also blocked across many networks.
Ullu was still available on Google Play but was missing on Apple devices. In 2024, it reported a profit of ₹212.3 million. It made ₹931.4 million in revenue. The company’s total worth was around ₹2.08 billion. In June alone, it had 1.8 million visits from India and 1.9 million globally.
These numbers show how widely these apps were used before the ban.
Also Read: TikTok Ban in the US: Here’s The Reason & What Happens Next!
Challenges in Enforcing the Ban Fully
This isn’t the first time the Indian Government acted on digital content. Even top platforms like Netflix received warnings in the past. But banning such content completely is difficult.
One reason is that Indian laws don’t clearly define bold content. If adult content is shared with consent, it’s not illegal. Still, the government is trying to control such material online.
Another problem is that many banned apps return under new names or websites. They also use social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram to grow again. This makes it hard to track and ban them permanently.
In April 2025, the Supreme Court asked the government to make rules more clear. It even sent notices to both the government and some app developers.
Written By: Roy
Publishing Date & Time: Jul 28, 2025 at 19:20
