'Anti-India content': I&B ministry blocks 22 more YouTube channels with '260 cr' viewership

The ministry of information and broadcasting has blocked 22 YouTube channels for “spreading disinformation related to India’s national security, foreign relations and public order”, according to a press release. According to the ministry, the combined viewership of these channels was over 260 crore.

Of the 22 channels, 18 are Indian news channels while four are Pakistan-based – including 'DuniyaMeryAagy', 'Ghulam NabiMadni', 'HAQEEQAT TV' and 'HAQEEQAT TV 2.0'. They have been blocked using emergency powers under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

The ministry has also blocked three Twitter handles, one Facebook account and one news website.

The ministry said that these channels were blocked for spreading “fake news” on issues such as Indian armed forces and Jammu and Kashmir. It said they had “anti-India” content which was supposedly circulated on social media accounts operating from Pakistan. Content on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war was also blocked. The ministry alleged that this content was “aimed at jeopardising India’s foreign relations with other countries”.

The YouTube channels were supposedly using logos and templates of certain news channels, including images of anchors, “to mislead the viewers to believe that the news was authentic”.

“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 ministry stated.

This is not the first time the ministry has blocked YouTube channels. In December 2021, the central government banned 20 YouTube channels for “anti-India content”. Similarly, in January 2022, the ministry blocked 35 other channels for “anti-India disinformation”. In both cases, the ministry had used emergency provisions under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.