NEW DELHI — The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Government of India on Monday blocked 16 YouTube ‘news’ channels, including six from Pakistan for allegedly spreading disinformation related to India’s national security, foreign relations and public order.
Their videos have more than 68 crore views in total, the ministry said.
“It was observed that these channels were used to spread fake news over social media on matters related to national security, India’s foreign relations, communal harmony in the country, and public order. None of the digital news publishers had furnished information to the Ministry as required under rule 18 of the IT Rules, 2021,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The content published by some of the India based YouTube channels referred to a community as terrorists, and incited hatred among the members of various religious communities,” it added.
On April 5, the government banned 22 YouTube channels, including four of Pakistani origin, citing similar reasons.
In December and January, the ministry used its emergency powers to block 55 YouTube channels and some Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Here are 16 channels banned in the latest round:
Indian-based YouTube channels: Saini Education Research, Hindi Mein Dekho, Technical Yogendra, Aaj te news, SBB News, Defence News24x7, The study time, Latest Update, MRF TV LIVE and Tahaffuz-E-Deen India
Pakistan-based YouTube channels: AjTak Pakistan, Discover Point, Reality Checks, Kaiser Khan, The Voice of Asia and Bol Media Bol.