Indian government has ordered to block 22 YouTube-based news channels, including four from Pakistan

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has ordered the shutdown of 22 YouTube-based news channels, four of which are from Pakistan, for allegedly propagating false information in order to mislead viewers. According to the report, this is the first time that action has been taken against Indian YouTube-based news creators since the release of the IT Rules, 2021 in February of last year.

The ministry claimed in an official statement that it issued an order on Monday to prohibit 22 YouTube channels, three Twitter accounts, one Facebook account, and one news website.

Since December 2021, the ministry has given directives for the shutdown of 78 YouTube-based news stations and many other social media accounts on grounds of national security, India's sovereignty and integrity, public order, and so on.

The blocked YouTube channels had a cumulative viewership of more than 260 crore, the ministry said in an official statement, adding that they were spreading fake news and coordinated disinformation on social media on sensitive subjects such as national security, India's foreign relations, and public order.

"Through the recent blocking order, 18 Indian and four Pakistan-based YouTube news channels have been blocked," the ministry stated, without specifying which ones.

The ministry claims that many YouTube channels were used to spread "fake news on various subjects such as the Indian Armed Forces, Jammu and Kashmir, etc."

Certain anti-India information was also ordered to be removed, which was posted from various social media accounts managed from Pakistan in a coordinated fashion.

"It was observed that a significant amount of false content was published by the Indian YouTube channels related to the ongoing situation in Ukraine, and aimed at jeopardising India's foreign relations with other countries," it added.

According to the ministry, the prohibited Indian YouTube channels were utilising templates and logos of some TV news networks, including photographs of their news anchors, to deceive viewers into believing the material was legitimate.

"False thumbnails were used, 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 report added.

"The Government of India remains committed towards ensuring an authentic, trustworthy, and safe online news media environment, and thwarting any attempts at undermining India's sovereignty and integrity, national security, foreign relations, and public order," stated the ministry.