Indian Govt BLOCKS many YouTube news channels, 4 Pakistan-based channels included

Indian Government blocks 22 YouTube channels as part of the latest drive to eradicate fake news. Out of these 22, there are 18 channels that are completely based out of India, while the rest of the four are based out of Pakistan. The move was undertaken under the emergency powers of the IT Rules, 2021. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has also released the list of all the YouTube based news channels that are involved in the ban.

"Multiple YouTube channels were used to post fake news on various subjects such as the Indian Armed Forces, Jammu and Kashmir, etc. The content ordered to be blocked also included certain anti-India content posted from multiple social media accounts operated in a coordinated manner from Pakistan," the government said in a statement.

India blocks 22 new YouTube channels

"“The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, utilizing the emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021, has issued orders on 04.04.2022 for blocking of twenty-two (22) YouTube based news channels, three (3) Twitter accounts, one (1) Facebook account, and one (1) news website,” said the statement.

The list of blocked Indian channels include ARP News, AOP News, LDC News, SarkariBabu, SS ZONE Hindi, Smart News, News23Hindi, Online Khabar, DP news, PKB News, KisanTak, Borana News, Sarkari News Update, Bharat Mausam, RJ ZONE 6, Exam Report, Digi Gurukul and Dinbhar ki khabrein.

The list of blocked Pakistan-based channels include DuniyaMeryAagy, Ghulam NabiMadni, HAQEEQAT TV and HAQEEQAT TV 2.0. Additionally, the directive also orders the Twitter and Facebook handles of the DuniyaMeryAagy. The Twitter account of Ghulam NabiMadni and HAQEEQAT TV are also blocked.

"Multiple YouTube channels were used to post fake news on various subjects such as the Indian Armed Forces, Jammu and Kashmir, etc. The content ordered to be blocked also included certain anti-India content posted from multiple social media accounts operated in a coordinated manner from Pakistan. It was observed that a significant amount of false content published by these Indian YouTube based channels related to the ongoing situation in Ukraine, and aimed at jeopardising India’s foreign relations with other countries,” said the ministry.

It is said that these blocked channels have a total viewership of 260 crores and were involved in dissemination of fake news as well as coordinated disinformation on social media on various burning topics, which included Ukraine War, Jammu and Kashmir, and more.