The blocked channels reportedly have a complete of 85,73,000 subscribers and greater than 114 crore views. These channels have gained 83 Lakh, 73,000 subscribers all through their lively operation.
Since February final yr, the federal government has blocked entry to 102 YouTube channels, many web sites, and social media accounts. From rumors of “nuclear explosion” within the nation to North Korea sending troops to Ayodhya, the 102 YouTube channels that the federal government banned have been recognized to unfold false details about India to their hundreds of thousands of subscribers repeatedly and “generate profits off of pretend information,” based on officers.
The federal government began cracking down on these YouTube channels in December final yr underneath the Info Expertise Act, 2021.
Officers say that the federal government has blocked entry to 102 YouTube channels, many web sites, and social media accounts that used the templates and logos of common TV channels to trick viewers into pondering that the information they have been displaying was actual. These guidelines have been introduced in February of final yr.
A Ministry official stated that the intelligence businesses have been keeping track of social media accounts and web sites and sending details about them to the Ministry in order that they’ll take motion.
“A few of these channels even made cash by promoting faux information and operating advertisements,” the official stated.
The most recent spherical of motion occurred final Thursday when the Ministry of Info and Broadcasting advised YouTube to dam eight channels, together with one primarily based in Pakistan, that have been spreading faux information about issues like a ban on Bakra-eid celebrations in India, “assaults” on locations of Muslim worship, and an “invasion” of Turkey by India and Egypt.
A YouTube channel known as A M Razvi talked about “army motion on Ajmer Dargah” and “Muslims flying an Islamic flag on a temple,” whereas Pakistan-based channels known as “Information ki Duniya” stated that the “Qutub Minar mosque” had been destroyed.
One other YouTube channel known as “Naya Pakistan International” stated that Kim Jong Un, the chief of North Korea, had despatched his military to Ayodhya.
A Ministry official stated, “The content material that was blocked was discovered to be dangerous to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the safety of the state, India’s good relations with different nations, and public order within the nation.”
He stated that the content material fell underneath the Info Expertise Act of 2000, Part 69A. To guard the nation’s sovereignty and security, part 69-A provides the federal government the ability to dam entry to any content material.
In January of this yr, the Ministry of Info and Broadcasting ordered YouTube channels to be blocked in the event that they shared content material meant to advertise secession, divide India alongside spiritual strains, or make individuals hate one another.
It had discovered two networks: Apni Duniya Community, which ran 14 YouTube channels, and Talha Movies Community, which ran 13 YouTube channels.
One other YouTube channel known as “Cowl Level” stated that Pakistan and ISI “gained” when India misplaced a nuclear warhead.
The Ministry had stated, “All of those networks gave the impression to be run with the one aim of spreading faux information to an Indian viewers.”
In December of final yr, the Ministry stated that the YouTube channels in query had additionally posted content material about protests over issues just like the three farm legal guidelines and the Citizenship (Modification) Act to show minorities towards the federal government.
“It was additionally feared that these YouTube channels could be used to publish content material that might damage the democratic strategy of the upcoming elections in 5 states,” the Ministry stated, referring to the elections in February in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Manipur.
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