Several YouTube channels, social media accounts blocked for anti-India content
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has blocked 18 Indian and four Pakistani YouTube channels and multiple social media accounts for spreading fake news and anti-India content. In a statement issued on Monday, the ministry said the channels used TV news channel logos and false thumbnails to misguide viewers. Since December 2021, 78 YouTube channels have been blocked under the new IT Rules, 2021.
Why does this story matter?
This is the first time action has been taken on the Indian YouTube-based news publishers since the notification of the IT Rules, 2021 in February last year, as per the official statement from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. In December 2021, the ministry blocked dozens of Pakistani-based accounts, including 35 YouTube channels, two Instagram accounts, two Twitter accounts, two websites, and one Facebook account.
Blocked accounts had over 260 crore viewers
The ministry invoked the emergency powers under the new IT rules to block 22 YouTube-based news channels, three Twitter accounts, one Facebook account, and one news website. As per the statement, these YouTube channels had a total viewership of over 260 crore and were used to spread fake news and coordinate disinformation on issues of "national security, India's foreign relations, and public order."
Accounts were spreading misinformation about J&K, armed forces
The ministry further added that these YouTube channels were used to spread fake news about the Indian Armed Forces and Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Anti-India content was being shared through social media accounts, it said. "A significant amount of false content published...related to the ongoing situation in Ukraine, and aimed at jeopardizing India's foreign relations with other countries," the statement added.
Similar action was taken in January this year
It may be recalled that in December last year, the Centre had issued similar orders to block dozens of YouTube channels, social media accounts, and websites for allegedly publishing fake news and "anti-India content." The accounts include 35 YouTube channels, two Instagram accounts, two Twitter accounts, two websites, and one account on Facebook, Ministry officials said at a media briefing.
'Systematic anti-India fake news was originating from Pakistan'
"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, it was also observed that systematic anti-India fake news was originating from Pakistan," the ministry said.
