Exploit the exigency powers of the IT Rules, 2021, the ministry of information & broadcasting (I&B) on Thursday said it blocked eight YouTube-based news channels, one Facebook account, and two Facebook posts for shaking out the deception and loathing.
Since December 2021, the ministry has now issued directions for blocking 102 YouTube-based news channels and several other social media accounts.
Now, the blocked channels had over 114 crore views on their videos; and 85 lac 73 thousand subscribers. Some decriminalize fake anti-India content uploaded on them. The purpose of the content published by some of these YouTube channels was to unfurl hatred among religious communities in India. Erroneous claims were made in various videos on the blocked YouTube channels. Examples include fake news such as the government of India to have ordered the demolition of religious structures; the Government of India to have banned the celebration of religious festivals, declaration of religious war in India, etc. Such content was found to have the potential to create communal strife and disturb public order in the country.
The YouTube channels were also used to stake fake news on various topics such as the Indian Armed Forces, Jammu and Kashmir, etc. The content was observed to be completely false and sensitive from the perspective of national security and India’s friendly relations with foreign States.
These channels include Loktantra TV (12.90 lakh subscribers), U&V TV (10.20 lakh subscribers), AM Razvi (95,900 subscribers), Gouravshali Pawan Mithilanchal (7 lakh subscribers), SeeTop5TH (33.50 lakh subscribers), Sarkari Update (80,900 subscribers), Sab Kuch Dekho (19.40 lakh subscribers) and Pakistan-based News ki Duniya.
