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 frequently and “generate profits off of pretend information,” in response to officers.

The authorities began cracking down on these YouTube channels in December final yr underneath the Information Technology Act, 2021.

Officials 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 in style 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 will take motion.

“Some of those channels even made cash by promoting pretend information and working adverts,” the official stated.

The newest spherical of motion occurred final Thursday when the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting informed YouTube to dam eight channels, together with one based mostly in Pakistan, that have been spreading pretend 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 referred to as A M Razvi talked about “army motion on Ajmer Dargah” and “Muslims flying an Islamic flag on a temple,” whereas Pakistan-based channels referred to as “News ki Duniya” stated that the “Qutub Minar mosque” had been destroyed.

Another YouTube channel referred to as “Naya Pakistan Global” 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 international locations, and public order within the nation.”

He stated that the content material fell underneath the Information Technology Act of 2000, Section 69A. To defend the nation’s sovereignty and security, part 69-A offers the federal government the facility to dam entry to any content material.

In January of this yr, the Ministry of Information 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 folks hate one another.

It had discovered two networks: Apni Duniya Network, which ran 14 YouTube channels, and Talha Films Network, which ran 13 YouTube channels.

Another YouTube channel referred to as “Cover Point” stated that Pakistan and ISI “gained” when India misplaced a nuclear warhead.

The Ministry had stated, “All of those networks appeared to be run with the only aim of spreading pretend 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 (Amendment) Act to show minorities towards the federal government.

“It was additionally feared that these YouTube channels could be used to publish content material that may damage the democratic means 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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