Pak based YouTube channel among 8 blocked by GoI
Dar Muneeb
SRINAGAR, Aug 18: One Pakistan-based YouTube news channel and seven Indian YouTube channels have been blocked by the Government of India (GoI) under IT Rules, 2021.
The blocked YouTube channels had over 114 Crore views, and 85,73,000 subscribers, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said on Thursday. The ministry further said that fake anti-India content was being monetized 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 YouTube based news channels, one 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 government issued a statement, a copy of which lies with Kashmir Despatch that reads, “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. The YouTube channels were also used to post fake news on various subjects such as the Indian Armed Forces, Jammu and Kashmir, etc.” it said.
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 statement said.
The content blocked by the 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.
The blocked Indian YouTube channels were observed to be using fake and sensational thumbnails, images of news anchors and logos of certain TV news channels to mislead the viewers to believe that the news was authentic.
All the YouTube channels blocked by the Ministry were displaying advertisements on their videos having false content detrimental to communal harmony, public order and India’s foreign relations.
With this action, since December 2021, the Ministry has issued directions for blocking of 102 YouTube based news channels and several other social media accounts. The Government of India remains committed towards ensuring an authentic, trustworthy, and safe online news media environment, and thwart any attempts at undermining India’s sovereignty and integrity, national security, foreign relations, and public order, the statement added.
The Details of Social Media Accounts and URLs Blocked are Loktantra Tv which has 23,72,27,331 views and 12.90 lakh subscribers, U&V TV, 14,40,03,291 views and 10.20 lakh subscribers, AM Razvi, 1,22,78,194 views and 95, 900 subscribers, Gouravshali Pawan Mithilanchal, 15,99,32,594 views and 7 lakh subscribers SeeTop5TH, 24,83,64,997 views and 33.50 lakh subscribers, Sarkari Update, 70,41,723 views and 80,900 subscribers, Sab Kuch Dekho, 32,86,03,227 views and 19.40 lakh subscribers and News ki Dunya (Pakistan based), 61,69,439 views and 97,000 subscribers also a Facebook Account Loktantra Tv which has 3,62,495 Followers.
