Govt blocked Pakistan-based OTT app for showing anti-India content

Tags: National News

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has blocked Pakistan-based OTT Platform Vidly TV and four social media accounts for displaying anti-India content on 12 December. 

Important facts

• Utilising emergency powers under IT Rules 2021, the Information & Broadcasting Ministry issued directions to block the website, two mobile applications, four social media accounts, and one smart TV app of Pakistan-based OTT platform Vidly TV.

• Vidly TV recently released a web series - 'Sevak: The Confessions'.

• The web series was found to be "prejudicial to national security, sovereignty and integrity of India, India's friendly relations with foreign states and public order".

• Three episodes of the web series have been released.

• Its first episode was aired on 26 November, the anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, and the content shows a "distorted version of sensitive historical events relating to India".

• The web series portrayed anti-India narrative on sensitive topics like Operation Bluestar, demolition of Babri Masjid, murder of Christian missionary Graham Staines, Malegaon blast, Samjhauta Express blast, and inter-state river water dispute.

• In September, the broadcasting ministry directed YouTube to remove 45 videos from 10 of its channels.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister - Anurag Singh Thakur