I&B Ministry orders blocking of 22 YouTube–based news channels

Four of them being run from Pakistan and being used to post fake news on subjects such as the armed forces and Jammu & Kashmir

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has ordered the blocking of 22 YouTube–based news channels, four of which were being run from Pakistan, by exercising its powers under the IT Rules, 2021.

The blocked channels had a cumulative viewership of over 260 crore and were being used to spread fake news, and coordinated disinformation over social media on subjects sensitive from the perspective of national security, foreign relations and public order, said the Ministry.

One Facebook and three Twitter accounts, besides a news website, have also been blocked.

This is the first time action has been taken against 18 Indian YouTube–based news publishers since the notification of the IT Rules, 2021, in February last year.

According to the Ministry, multiple YouTube channels were being used to post fake news on subjects such as the armed forces and Jammu & Kashmir.

“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 said.

It is alleged that a significant amount of false content was being published by the channels related to the ongoing situation in Ukraine. It was aimed at jeopardising foreign relations, said the Ministry.