The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ministry on Tuesday blocked 22 YouTube channels for ‘spreading misinformation related to India’s national security, foreign relations, and public order’. Of the total 22 YouTube channels, 4 were operating from Pakistan. Besides, the blocked accounts include three Twitter accounts, one Facebook account, and one news website.
Earlier in January, the Ministry blocked 35 YouTube-based news channels and two websites. They were spreading anti-India propaganda in a coordinated manner over digital media, I&B secretary Apurva Chandra said.
The blocking orders were issued under emergency provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Also Indian intelligence agencies were closely monitoring these social media accounts and websites and flagged them to the ministry for immediate action.
Among the channels blocked on Youtube from Pakistan are Ghulam NabiMadni, Haqeeqat TV, Haqeeqat TV 2.0. And the remaining 18 were Indian YouTube channels. Like Exam Report, ARP News, News23 Hindi, SarkariBabu, Bharat Mausam, KisanTak, reported Moneycontrol.
The ministry said in its statement, this is the first time Indian YouTube news publishers faced this kind of action since the notification of the IT Rules in February last year.
“False thumbnails were used. And the title and thumbnail of the videos were frequently altered to increase the virality of content on social media. In certain cases, the systematic anti-India fake news was originating from Pakistan.”
Multiple YouTube channels posted fake news on various subjects. Such as the Indian Armed Forces, Jammu, and Kashmir, etc. Also contents from multiple social media accounts like certain anti-India content posted were blocked. And they were operated in a coordinated manner from Pakistan, the ministry’s statement added.
With inputs from ANI
Published by: Aditya AndhariaÂ
Edited By : Kritika Kashyap
