OTT services including Ekta Kapoor's Alt Balaji booked for streaming obscene content

Directors or owners of these platforms and websites will be sent legal summons

video streaming Representational image

The Maharashtra Cyber police has registered an FIR against several OTT platforms, including Ekta Kapoor's Alt Balaji for streaming 'extremely obscene' videos. 

According to a report by the Times of India, OTT platforms like ALTBalaji, Hotshot, Flizmovies, Feneo, Kukoo, Neoflix, Ullu, Hotmasti, Chikooflix, Primeflix, Wetflix and portals like xvideos.com and pornhub have been booked.

"The videos uploaded on the OTT platforms and websites are extremely obscene and it is likely that the actresses depicted in the videos have been exploited, lured or compelled to perform the obscene acts. It can have disastrous consequences on young minds and can lead to erosion of dignity of women," said Yashasvi Yadav, Special Inspector General of Maharashtra Cyber Department.

The directors or owners of these platforms and websites will be sent legal summons.

Meanwhile, the Centre on Wednesday issued an order bringing online films and audio-visual programmes, and online news and current affairs content under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

With this, online streaming portals like Netflix, Hotstar and Amazon Prime will now be subject to the same censorship rules as that of television.