iWorld
Ekta Kapoor distances herself from Altt after Centre bans OTT app for obscene content
MUMBAI: Ekta Kapoor on Saturday issued a sharp clarification, asserting she has no links with Altt—the OTT platform recently blacklisted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for streaming “obscene and vulgar content.”
The Centre earlier this week banned 25 websites and apps, including Altt, Ullu, Desiflix and Big Shots, citing repeated violations of The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, Section 67 of the IT Act, and Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code. The ministry said the banned platforms hosted content with “sexual innuendos” and “long portions of sexually explicit scenes involving nudity,” crossing the threshold into pornographic territory.
In a detailed statement, Kapoor clarified that although she runs Balaji Telefilms, she has had no role at Altt since June 2021. “Contrary to reports, I am not associated in any capacity whatsoever with Altt I stepped down from any involvement over three years ago,” she stated.
She further added that Altt is now operated by Balaji Telefilms Ltd, following the merger of ALT Digital Media Entertainment Ltd.—earlier its wholly owned subsidiary—approved by the National Company Law Tribunal. The merger officially came into effect on 20 June 2025.
“Balaji Telefilms Ltd, listed on the BSE and NSE, is a professionally managed media company and fully compliant with all applicable laws. It continues to uphold the highest standards of corporate governance,” the statement read.
Kapoor’s comments come amid a media frenzy linking her to the now-banned Altt. “Any insinuation contrary to the above facts is strongly denied. The media is requested to report accurately,” she concluded.
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iWorld
X launches XChat messaging app on iOS with calls and encryption
Standalone app marks shift from “everything app” vision, adds E2E messaging.
MUMBAI: From one big app to many small chats, X seems to be splitting its ambitions. X has rolled out its standalone messaging app, XChat, to iOS users, opening up a new front in its evolving product strategy. The app allows users to connect with existing X contacts through private and group messages, file sharing, as well as audio and video calls. The launch follows a limited beta phase, where the platform tested the product with a smaller user base to refine the experience. Now available publicly, XChat marks a notable pivot from earlier ambitions championed by Elon Musk to turn X into a single “everything app” combining messaging, payments, commerce and more.
Instead, the company under xAI ownership and backed by SpaceX appears to be building a suite of standalone applications, each targeting specific use cases while expanding its broader ecosystem.
At launch, XChat includes end-to-end encrypted messaging, PIN-based access, disappearing messages, and features such as message editing, deletion for all participants, and screenshot blocking. The company has also said the app is free from advertisements and tracking mechanisms, positioning it as a privacy-first alternative in a crowded messaging space.
However, security claims around the platform are likely to face scrutiny. Earlier iterations of XChat drew criticism from experts who argued it fell short of established encrypted platforms like Signal. With the wider rollout, the app is expected to undergo fresh evaluation to assess whether those concerns have been addressed.
Beyond messaging, XChat will also house X’s Communities feature, which is being discontinued on the main platform due to low usage and spam concerns. Migrating these users could provide an early boost to adoption, effectively turning XChat into both a communication and community hub.
The move underscores a broader recalibration at X less about cramming everything into one app, and more about spreading bets across multiple touchpoints, one message at a time.
