Govt blocks 22 YouTube channels for posting ‘anti-India’ content, full report here!

In an order issued on Monday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting suspended 22 YouTube channels for allegedly disseminating disinformation about India’s national security and foreign ties.

This includes 18 Indian YouTube news channels that were restricted for the first time under the IT Rules of 2021, as well as four Pakistani YouTube news channels.

According to the government, the YouTube channels misled viewers by using TV news channel logos and misleading thumbnails. Three Twitter accounts, one Facebook account, and one news website were also banned.

“The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, utilising the emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021, has issued orders on 04.04.2022 for blocking of twenty-two (22) YouTube-based news channels, three (3) Twitter accounts, one (1) Facebook account, and one (1) news website. The blocked YouTube channels had a cumulative viewership of over 260 crores and were used to spread fake news, and coordinated disinformation over social media on subjects sensitive from the perspective of national security, India’s foreign relations, and public order,” the ministry said in a statement.

Multiple YouTube channels, according to the government, were utilised to spread fake news on the Indian Armed Forces, Jammu and Kashmir, and other topics. Certain “anti-India” content posted from various social media accounts run in a coordinated manner from Pakistan was also ordered to be blocked, according to the report.

“It was observed that a significant amount of false content published by these Indian YouTube-based channels related to the ongoing situation in Ukraine, and aimed at jeopardising India’s foreign relations with other countries,” it said.

Since December 2021, the ministry has issued orders to prohibit 78 YouTube-based news stations and a number of other social media accounts on national security concerns.