I&B Ministry
MIB calls for battle plan against digital pirates
NEW DELHI: India’s information and broadcasting ministry (MIB) has thrown open the floor to industry heavyweights, demanding fresh ammunition in the war against digital piracy. The call comes as film studios, streaming giants and broadcasters nurse mounting losses from rampant content theft.
Kshitij Aggarwal, deputy director for digital media, issued the public notice on 7 November, giving stakeholders just 20 days to fire off their grievances and game plans. The ministry wants the lot: technological fixes, enforcement strategies, global best practices that might work in India’s chaotic digital bazaar.
The targets are clear. Film piracy bleeds the industry dry. Illegal streaming sites mock OTT platforms. Bootleg broadcasts undercut television channels. The ministry reckons a comprehensive overhaul is overdue, one that ropes in everyone from telecom providers to intermediary platforms.
Four questions frame the consultation. What makes pirated content so devilishly hard to spot and kill? Where do enforcement mechanisms spring leaks? Which international tactics deserve a Mumbai makeover? And how can platforms, government agencies and rights holders stop tripping over each other?
Responses should land at digital-mediamib@gov.in before the deadline expires. Whether the ministry’s inbox fills with revolutionary ideas or tired platitudes will determine if India finally gets serious about protecting its content creators—or if the pirates keep plundering with impunity.
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.
