Child rights panel demands action on 'Ullu' app over sexually explicit content

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) urged the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to take action against the 'Ullu' application. The ministry demanded a response from the ministry within 10 days.

In a letter to the ministry, NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo said that the 'Ullu' application, available on both the Play store and the iOS, contains "extremely obscene and objectionable" content, which is accessible even to children.

"The App is easily accessible on Google and Apple and does not seem to have any KYC requirement for downloading or viewing any content it makes available to its private group," he said in the letter.

The commission said that it took cognisance of the matter based on a complaint from an X user.

It said that there are specific shows on the application which target schoolkids with "explicit sexual scenes and plotlines", adding that sexual intercourse between schoolchildren was depicted in one of the shows.

The commission said that the app did not require KYC or other age verification system, which makes explicit content easily accessible to minors.

"Such accessibility is deemed to be a direct violation of Section 11 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012," it said, urging the minitry to take action against the app.

It also requested the IT Ministry to provide information on the regulations and policy certifications which govern such apps.

The commission added that strict measures should be taken by the ministry to mandate KYC procedure for applications streaming explicit content, which are available on Play Store and App Store, to protect children from accessing such applications.