The authorities on Tuesday stated it has ordered the blocking of 20 YouTube channels and two web sites that unfold “anti-India propaganda” and pretend information.
A press release issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stated, “The channel and website belong to a coordinated propaganda network operating out of Pakistan and are spreading fake news about various sensitive topics related to India.”
According to the assertion, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued two separate orders directing YouTube and the Department of Telecommunications to dam accounts and web sites. The orders have been the results of “close coordination efforts” between intelligence businesses and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, it stated.
The ministry stated that the channels principally attempt to attempt to protest in opposition to Kashmir, Indian Army, Ram Mandir, late Chief of Defense Staff Bipin Rawat, the now repealed agricultural legal guidelines and Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Inciting minorities in opposition to the Government of India.
In a video tweeted by Press Information Bureau, I&B Minister Anurag Thakur stated, “We have taken motion in opposition to cross-border actions geared toward creating unrest in India by means of spreading pretend information and propaganda. YouTube channel and net portal have been violating home legal guidelines and strict motion has been taken in opposition to them.
The Ministry has issued the orders in train of emergency powers beneath Rule 16 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Code of Conduct) Rules, 2021. It claimed that the blocked channels had a mixed subscriber base of over 3.5 million, and that their movies had 550 million views.
The authorities stated it thought YouTube channels could be used to hold content material to “undermine the democratic process of the upcoming elections in five states”.
Elections in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur are due early subsequent yr.
On Tuesday, YouTube accounts have been discovered blocked with the message: “This content is not available on domains in this country due to a government legal complaint.”
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
