The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), Government of India, has directed Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to restrict public access to 25 websites found to be hosting material in violation of Indian laws, Storyboard reported. The directive follows a formal notification issued under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
Among the platforms identified for non-compliance are ALTT, ULLU, Big Shots App, Desiflix, Boomex, Navarasa Lite, Gulab App, Kangan App, Bull App, Jalva App, Wow Entertainment, Look Entertainment, Hitprime, Feneo, ShowX, Sol Talkies, Adda TV, HotX VIP, Hulchul App, MoodX, NeonX VIP, Fugi, Mojflix, and Triflicks.
The Ministry’s move reinforces the legal obligations of digital intermediaries to act against unlawful content when notified by competent authorities. Citing Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, the government noted that intermediaries lose their legal immunity if they fail to expeditiously remove or disable access to material used to commit an unlawful act, once they are made aware of it.
IT rules explained
Further invoking Rule 3(1)(d) of the 2021 IT Rules, the MIB highlighted that intermediaries are barred from hosting, storing, or publishing any content that undermines India’s sovereignty and integrity, threatens public order or morality, or violates laws related to defamation, contempt of court, or incitement to offences.
The notification was signed by the Authorised Officer and Joint Secretary of the MIB, who has been designated as the Nodal Officer for such matters via an office order dated December 21, 2023. It underscores the applicability of Rule 7 of the IT Rules, 2021, which states that failure to observe these rules may strip intermediaries of safe harbour protections under Section 79(1) and make them liable under relevant penal provisions.
These platforms have been found in violation of multiple provisions, including Section 67 and 67A of the IT Act, Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
What’s next?
The Department of Telecommunications has also been informed, with a request to facilitate compliance by internet service providers. The move is part of the MIB’s broader push to regulate digital content and enforce adherence to Indian laws, particularly as they relate to online curated and news-related content under Part III of the IT Rules, 2021.