25 OTT Platform Ban in India Set to Boost VPN, Piracy: Expert Insights
India’s OTT ban could backfire, spurring VPN adoption and digital piracy. Experts stress real solutions must go beyond censorship to regulate content effectively.
Government OTT Ban: Policy Backfire or Content Solution?
When the Indian government pulled the plug on 25 over-the-top (OTT) streaming platforms—names like Ullu, ALTT, and several smaller players disappeared virtually overnight—it set the entertainment world abuzz. Ostensibly, this ban is about curbing obscene and unlawful content and safeguarding public morals. Yet speak to digital rights experts, content creators, and even a chunk of everyday viewers, and you’ll find a radically different story brewing beneath the surface.
Sudden Ban, Sudden Shift
India’s OTT scene has seen explosive growth. According to PwC, the industry is set to leap from $1.8b in 2022 to $3.5b by 2027, making it one of the fastest-growing digital economies worldwide. So, a ban affecting millions of paying subscribers—27 lakh on Ullu alone, for instance—was always going to have ripple effects.
But here’s the rub: banning entire platforms doesn’t dissolve demand. “These platforms exist because there’s massive consumer demand outside metro cities. If viewers can’t access content they want on regulated, legal platforms, they’ll simply turn to torrents, Telegram, shady APKs, and VPNs,” explains Sourya Banerjee, a policy communications expert.
VPN & Piracy Surge: An Open Secret
And that’s not just hand-waving. The past year has seen VPN usage in India soar by over 50%, making digital roadblocks look almost futile. Even the government’s own tech bodies like CERT-In and TRAI are still debating how—or if—VPNs could be effectively regulated. The likely outcome? VPN providers that comply with India’s tough rules might survive, but privacy-focused apps and international players will simply get blocked (or become even more essential to web-savvy users).
This drives content further underground. Torrent sites, illegal Telegram channels, and shadowy streaming services fill the demand vacuum left behind by banned OTT platforms. Users seeking entertainment often know exactly how to sidestep these blocks—and India’s online piracy rate is now among the highest in Asia, with 59% of consumers in the region admitting to accessing unauthorized content.
Are Blanket Bans the Answer?
Legal experts aren’t mincing words, either. Siddharth Chandrashekhar, an advocate at the Bombay High Court, calls these sweeping bans “a violation of proportionality.” Instead of tackling harmful material at the root level, such blackouts threaten the creative autonomy protected under India’s Constitution. Not only do blanket bans chill free speech and artistic expression, they also jolt legitimate players—pushing industry leaders like Netflix and Amazon Prime to rethink their compliance regimes.
Here is the full list of the 25 OTT platforms recently banned by the Indian government for violating obscenity and indecency laws:
- ULLU
- ALTT
- Desiflix
- Big Shots App
- Boomex
- Bull App
- Feneo
- Fugi
- Gulab App
- Hitprime
- HotX VIP
- Hulchul App
- Jalva App
- Kangan App
- Look Entertainment
- Mojflix
- MoodX
- Navarasa Lite
- NeonX VIP
- ShowHit
- ShowX
- Sol Talkies
- Triflicks
- Adda TV
- Wow Entertainment
These platforms were restricted for streaming or promoting content that the government deemed obscene, vulgar, or otherwise in violation of Indian content laws. The ban covers both their apps and websites throughout India.
Real Change vs Cosmetic Censorship
For now, the government insists that blocking is necessary to protect the vulnerable, particularly women and minors. But without a transparent, targeted approach, experts warn, the only victors will be pirates, VPN peddlers, and shadowy content distributors. “Regulation through transparency and user empowerment—not blunt censorship—is how you build a healthy digital ecosystem,” says Vin Media CEO Vinti Jain.
Don’t be surprised if the result is a less safe, less diverse digital playground—one that’s harder to police and costlier for both creators and consumers.
As the dust settles, it’s impossible to miss the irony: efforts to clamp down on “obscene” content may actually drive it deeper underground, making regulation harder, not easier. Let’s hope the next move on India’s digital chessboard keeps both freedom and responsibility in mind—and doesn’t just funnel viewers into the waiting arms of pirates and proxy servers.
