India Comes Down Hard On Pakistan With Its YouTube Channel Ban. This Is Not Govt's First Major Crackdown
In January 2022, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry ordered the blocking of 35 Pakistan-based YouTube channels after receiving intelligence alerts.
India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, citing the spread of "provocative and communally sensitive content, false and misleading narratives and misinformation against India, its Army and security agencies." The action, recommended by the Ministry of Home Affairs, follows the recent terror attack targeting tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
Collectively, these channels had amassed over 63 million subscribers. Major Pakistani media outlets such as Dawn News Pakistan, Samaa TV, ARY News, Bol News, Raftar, Geo News, and Suno News were among those banned. YouTube channels run by journalists Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, and Muneeb Farooq were also taken down, alongside other platforms like The Pakistan Reference, Samaa Sports, Uzair Cricket, and Razi Naama.
If you try to open the above YouTube Channels, you will come across the following message: This content is currently unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order. For more details about government removal requests, please visit the Google Transparency Report (transparencyreport.google.com).
The move reflects India's growing push to counter online narratives that could stoke communal tensions or undermine national security, especially during volatile times.
Flashback: The January 2022 YouTube Ban
This is not the first time India has cracked down on Pakistani digital platforms. In January 2022, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry ordered the blocking of 35 Pakistan-based YouTube channels after receiving intelligence alerts. Together, these accounts had over 100 crore views and were accused of systematically spreading "anti-India fake news" across digital platforms.
In addition to YouTube channels, two websites, two Twitter handles, two Instagram profiles, and one Facebook account were also blocked. Intelligence agencies flagged the platforms for immediate action, noting that many operated under coordinated networks like Apni Duniya Network and Talha Films Network, which ran multiple interconnected channels.
The ministry said these groups had a clear agenda: to create division within Indian society along religious lines, encourage separatism, and damage the credibility of Indian institutions.
'War Of Misinformation'
Speaking at the time, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Apurva Chandra had termed the blocked channels “very, very toxic.” He said, “It was sort of a war against the country. War of misinformation.”
He explained that the channels, often operated by Pakistani TV anchors, used coordinated hashtags, similar editing styles, and cross-promotion tactics to push their content.
Chandra pointed out that the misinformation often targeted key subjects such as the Indian Armed Forces, Jammu and Kashmir, India’s foreign relations, separatist movements, and even the tragic death of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat.
Highlighting the importance of vigilance, Chandra added, “Now since this process has started, I’m sure more and more such channels will get blocked.” Citizens were also encouraged to alert authorities about suspicious channels or sites.
The government invoked Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, in both instances to ensure swift action against platforms seen as threats to India's public order and national security.
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