The Indian government informed Parliament on Wednesday that over 1,400 web links and 43 over-the-top (OTT) platforms were blocked. The step was taken to counter fake news and regulate harmful online content.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, responding to a question by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, said that a large amount of misinformation, mainly from outside India, was being spread during Operation Sindoor. The government found that several social media accounts, many believed to be based in Pakistan, were sharing false news, anti-India narratives, and content aimed at creating communal tension and targeting the Indian Armed Forces.
To deal with this, the government issued an advisory to all media outlets on April 26, 2025, asking them to verify news before publishing or broadcasting. Vaishnaw said that India used its existing legal and institutional tools to stop the spread of such information. He also pointed out that many social media handles were found actively spreading false claims during the operation.
In a separate reply to MPs Smita Uday Wagh and Kangna Ranaut, the minister mentioned that the government had also received complaints from the public, especially regarding content that could harm children and women. Though the exact details were not shared, the reply confirmed that action was taken against a number of platforms.
On Wednesday, Vaishnaw told the Lok Sabha in a written statement that the Centre had blocked 43 OTT platforms. This move, he said, was part of efforts to stop the spread of adult, violent, and culturally inappropriate material. The platforms were blocked after consulting other government departments and reviewing complaints and content.
According to the minister, OTT platforms must follow the IT Rules, 2021, which were introduced in February that year. These rules require platforms to classify their content based on age and ensure that no content breaking Indian laws is published. They must also set up controls to keep age-inappropriate content away from children.
Further, Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000, gives the government the right to direct platforms to take down illegal content. Recently, 25 OTT platforms, including Ullu, ALTT, and Desiflix, were blocked for showing content considered obscene or against Indian cultural norms.
