The union ministry of information and broadcasting has ordered YouTube to block 45 videos from 10 channels for alleged disinformation that was harmful to India’s sovereignty, security, global relations, and public order. These videos, as per the ministry, had more than 1.3 crore viewers.
45 videos Blocked
The Centre has recently directed video streaming platform YouTube to block 45 videos from 10 YouTube channels after they were found containing hate speeches against religious communities and trying to spread communal conflict. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told the media that the government will continue to act against those who try to upload such content in the future too.
The decision was made on September 23 based on input from intelligence agencies. “The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has banned and suspended 10 YouTube channels for attempting to sabotage ties with friendly countries through misinformation, spewing venom against the country,” the I&B Minister Anurag Thakur said.
“Orders to block the concerned videos were issued on 23.09.2022 under the provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021,” the ministry said in a statement.
सूचना प्रसारण मंत्रालय ने 10 यूट्यूब चैनलों को देश के खिलाफ जहर उगलने वाले, भ्रामक खबरों के माध्यम से मित्र देशों के साथ सम्बंधों को ख़राब करने का प्रयास करने के लिए प्रतिबंध लगा कर उन्हें सस्पेंड कर दिया है।
राष्ट्रहित में ये पहले भी किया है, आगे भी करेंगे।
| @MIB_India | pic.twitter.com/uIIpXvEUOw
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) September 26, 2022
The content of these videos included fake news and morphed videos spread with the intent to spread hatred among religious communities.
Dhruv Rathee’s video on the list
The 10 YouTube channels are The Live TV, nine from Hind Voice, six each from Inqilab Live and Desh India Live, four from Mr. Reaction Wala, two each from GetsetflyFACT and 4 PM, and one each from the channels of Vinay Pratap Singh Bhopar, National Adda, and Dhruv Rathee, according to The Indian Express.
The blocked videos include one by popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee – titled “Why Imran Khan lost? Political crisis in Pakistan” – which the ministry says showed parts of Indian territory in Pakistan.
“Certain videos depicted the erroneous external boundary of India with parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh outside the Indian territory. Such cartographic misrepresentation was found to be detrimental to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India,” said the ministry.
Also, the ministry said that the government remains committed to blocking any attempts at undermining India’s sovereignty and integrity, national security, foreign relations, and public order.
