New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has issued orders to block eight YouTube-based news channels, one Facebook account, and two Facebook posts. The blocked YouTube channels had a cumulative viewership of over 114 crore, were subscribed by over 85 lakh users.
The move was executed using emergency powers under IT Rules 2021, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said in a release today.
Reportedly, the content published by some of these YouTube channels was to spread hatred among religious communities in India. “Examples include fake news such as the Government of India to have ordered demolition of religious structures… to have banned celebration of religious festivals, declaration of religious war in India,” the release added.
Of the Indian channels blocked, ‘Sab Kuch Dekho’ has the most subscribers, 19.4 lakh, and nearly 33 crore views. The others include Loktantra TV — whose Facebook account has been banned too — besides U&V TV, AM Razvi, Gouravshali Pawan Mithilanchal, SeeTop5TH, and Sarkari Update. The Pakistan-based channel is called ‘News ki Dunya’, which has about 1 lakh subscribers.
The release today declared that the government is “committed towards ensuring an authentic, trustworthy, and safe online news media environment”. The action against some social media channels is to “thwart any attempts at undermining India’s sovereignty and integrity, national security, foreign relations, and public order”.
Earlier in April 22 channels were blocked under similar charges. Since December 2021, the Ministry has issued directions for blocking of 102 YouTube based news channels and several other social media accounts.