India blocks 35 YouTube channels, two websites, two Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts. Apurva Chandra said that these channels are spreading coordinated anti-India disinformation over the internet.
The Indian government has blocked 35 YouTube channels and two websites operating from Pakistan for spreading ‘anti-India’ content, almost a month after blocking 20 such channels in the video-sharing platform.
“We have issued an order on Thursday to block 35 YouTube channels, two websites, two Twitter and Instagram accounts, and a Facebook account using emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021. These are involved in spreading coordinated anti-India disinformation over the internet. All these are based in Pakistan” Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Secretary Apurva Chandra said at a press conference here.
We have directed the intermediaries to block these channels, Chandra added.
He informed that the YouTube accounts blocked by the Ministry had a total subscriber base of over 1 crore, and their videos had over 130 crore views.
Chandra said the decision was taken by the Ministry following inputs from intelligence agencies.
The contents of these channels were against the sovereignty and integrity of India, he added.
“Our intelligence agencies are alive to this issue and are at work. We will block more such channels in the coming days,” the MIB Secretary said.
Chandra further said anything more comes to the Ministry’s notice, it will immediately take action on it.
Meanwhile, the MIB in a statement said, “The channels blocked were used for spreading anti-India fake news which included topics like the Indian Army, Jammu, and Kashmir, India’s foreign relations with other countries.”
It was also observed that rampant fake news was spread through the YouTube channels regarding the demise of the former Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, it said.
Last month, India blocked 20 channels on YouTube and two websites operating from Pakistan for spreading similar content.
Block 35 more Pakistan-based YouTube channels: Information and Broadcasting ministry https://t.co/nkJEySppu6
— TOI India (@TOIIndiaNews) January 21, 2022
News channels that the Indian Govt. blocks 35 YouTube channels include Khabar With Facts, Khabar Taiz, Global Truth, Global Facts, Information Hub, Flash Now, Apni Duniya Network channels Faisal Tarar Speaks, Apni Duniya TV, Haqiqat Ki Duniya, Shahzad Abbas, Mera Pakistan With Sahab, Khabar With Ahmed, HR TV, Sabi Kazmi, Sach TV Network, Saqib Speaks, Salman Haider Official, Sajid Gondal Speaks, Maleeha Speaks, Malihas Hashmi, Umar Daraz Gondal, Talha Films Youtube Channel Khoji TV, Khoji TV 2.0, Cover Point, Junaid Flix, National Studio, Informative World, Duniya Official, Studio 360, Haqiqat TV News, Haqiqat TV 786, Bol Media TV, Urdu Studio and Zaki Abbas.
