Ministry of I&B blocks 8 YouTube channels for spreading disinformation related to India’s national security, foreign relations and public order

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, utilizing the emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021, has issued orders on 16.08.2022 for blocking of eight (8) YouTube based news channels, one (1) 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.

Analysis of Content

The purpose of the content published by some of these YouTube channels was to spread hatred among religious communities in India. False claims were made in various videos of the blocked YouTube channels. Examples include fake news such as the Government of India to have ordered demolition of religious structures; Government of India to have banned celebration of religious festivals, declaration of religious war in India, etc. Such content was found to have the potential to create communal disharmony and disturb public order in the country.

The YouTube channels were also used to post fake news on various subjects such as the Indian Armed Forces, Jammu and Kashmir, etc. The content was observed to be completely false and sensitive from the perspective of national security and India’s friendly relations with foreign States.

The content blocked by the Ministry was found to be detrimental to sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, India’s friendly relations with foreign States, and public order in the country. Accordingly, the content was covered within the ambit of section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

Modus Operandi

The blocked Indian YouTube channels were observed to be using fake and sensational thumbnails, images of news anchors and logos of certain TV news channels to mislead the viewers to believe that the news was authentic.

All the YouTube channels blocked by the Ministry were displaying advertisements on their videos having false content detrimental to communal harmony, public order and India’s foreign relations.

With this action, since December 2021, the Ministry has issued directions for blocking of 102 YouTube based news channels and several other social media accounts. The Government of India remains committed towards ensuring an authentic, trustworthy, and safe online news media environment, and thwart any attempts at undermining India’s sovereignty and integrity, national security, foreign relations, and public order.

 

 

Details of Social Media Accounts and URLs Blocked

YouTube Channels

Sl. No.	YouTube channel Name	Media Statistics
	Loktantra Tv	23,72,27,331 views 12.90 lakh subscribers
	U&V TV	14,40,03,291 views 10.20 lakh subscribers
	AM Razvi	1,22,78,194 views 95, 900 subscribers
	Gouravshali Pawan Mithilanchal	15,99,32,594 views 7 lakh subscribers
	SeeTop5TH	24,83,64,997 views 33.50 lakh subscribers
	Sarkari Update	70,41,723 views 80,900 subscribers
	Sab Kuch Dekho	32,86,03,227 views 19.40 lakh subscribers
	News ki Dunya (Pakistan based)	61,69,439 views 97,000 subscribers
Total		Over 114 crore views, 85 lakh 73 thousand subscribers

 

Facebook Page

Sl. No.	Facebook Account	No. of Followers
	Loktantra Tv	3,62,495 Followers

 

Exemplars of Blocked Content

Loktantra Tv

 

 

 

U&V TV

 

 

 

 

AM Razvi

 

 

Gouravshali Pawan Mithilanchal

 

SeeTop5TH

 

 

 

 

Sarkari Update

 

 

Sab Kuch Dekho

 

News ki Dunya (Pakistan based)

The screenshot as under claims that 100 crore Hindus will kill 40 crore Muslims, and that Muslims should to go Pakistan or Bangladesh otherwise they will be massacred.

 

The below screenshot claims that India’s Qutub Minar mosque has been demolished.

 

Saurabh Singh