The central government on Thursday blocked eight YouTube channels for spreading disinformation related to India’s national security, foreign relations, and public order. The blocked YouTube channels included one Pakistan-based news channel and seven Indian news channels, according to reports. The YouTube-based news channels were blocked for allegedly spreading fake news to mislead viewers under IT Rules, 2021.
According to the I&B Ministry, the blocked YouTube-based news channels had over 114 crore views and 85 lakh and 73 thousand subscribers. The ministry added that the fake anti-India content was being monetised by the blocked channels on YouTube.
"The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, utilizing the emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021, has issued orders on 16.08.2022 for blocking of eight (8) YouTube based news channels, one (1) Facebook account, and two Facebook posts. The blocked YouTube channels had a cumulative viewership of over 114 crore, were subscribed by over 85 lakh users," the ministry said in a release.
The purpose of the content published by some of these YouTube channels was to spread hatred among religious communities in India. False claims were made in various videos of the blocked YouTube channels. Examples include fake news such as the Government of India to have ordered demolition of religious structures; Government of India to have banned celebration of religious festivals, declaration of religious war in India, etc. Such content was found to have the potential to create communal disharmony and disturb public order in the country.
According to the ministry, the YouTube channels were also used to post fake news on various subjects 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.
The content blocked by the I&B Ministry was found to be detrimental to sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, India’s friendly relations with foreign States, and public order in the country. Accordingly, the content was covered within the ambit of section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
This is not the first time that the I&B Ministry has blocked such YouTube channels for spreading misinformation. earlier in April, the government had blocked 16 YouTube channels for spreading disinformation related to India’s national security, foreign relations, and public order. This included six Pakistan-based news channels and 10 Indian news channels, according to news agency ANI.
The blocked YouTube-based news channels had a viewership of over 68 crores, the news agency added.