I&B Ministry
Dave Ryan is VSNL America COO
MUMBAI: Indian telecom service provider VSNL, which is a division of the Tata Group has announced that its US affiliate, VSNL America appointed Dave Ryan as COO.
Ryan will report to VSNL international business group executive director Vinod Kumar. Ryan is building a team based in Reston, Virginia, to expand customer-facing activity to the carrier and enterprise markets in the US.
Prior to joining VSNL America Ryan was with NTT America as its executive VP and COO. Ryan brings over 20 years of sales management experience in the international telecommunications field.
Ryan added, “The success of VSNL in India offers an attractive platform to develop a worldwide telecommunications provider. The US market is key to that success. VSNL is perfectly situated within the Tata Group to capitalise on its telecommunications prowess and combine it with the software and IT capabilities with its related companies to lead the industry in the 21st century.”
I&B Ministry
MIB blocks MoodXVIP, Koyal Playpro and three other OTT platforms over obscene, sexually explicit content
Platforms streamed material violating IT Act provisions
NATIONAL: India’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry blocked five over-the-top streaming platforms for allegedly hosting obscene and sexually explicit content, marking a fresh escalation in regulatory action against digital services operating outside the country’s content rules, as per media reports.
The platforms, MoodXVIP, Koyal Playpro, Digi Movieplex, Feel and Jugnu, were found to be streaming material that prima facie violates provisions of the Information Technology Act and rules governing online publishers.
Blocking orders were issued under statutory powers that allow the government to restrict access to online content in the interest of public order and decency. Internet service providers have been directed to disable access to the websites and mobile applications linked to the platforms.
The move forms part of a wider surveillance drive by the ministry targeting lesser-known and unregulated streaming services that allegedly evade self-regulatory obligations applicable to OTT platforms. Officials said the action followed repeated advisories urging compliance with Indian laws, including age-based classification, grievance redressal mechanisms and restrictions on explicit material.
Government sources described the content hosted by the blocked platforms as “highly explicit”, adding that it crossed legal thresholds permitted under Indian law. While large OTT players operate within a three-tier grievance redressal framework introduced in 2021, smaller apps have increasingly drawn scrutiny for distributing adult content without oversight.
The latest action also reflects heightened enforcement against platforms operating through mirror websites, offshore hosting arrangements or opaque ownership structures. Authorities have in recent years stepped up monitoring of online curated content amid concerns around obscenity, misleading promotions and unlawful distribution.
Officials declined to say whether further steps, including probes into operators, payment gateways or production entities, were being considered. However, sources indicated that additional platforms could face similar action if found in breach of the law.
