Centre blocks 8 YouTube channels for spreading disinformation against India

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ The government on Thursday ordered the blocking of eight YouTube channels, including one operating from Pakistan, for allegedly using “fake and sensational thumbnails” and spreading disinformation related to India’s national security. The channels that were blocked under the Information Technology Rules-2021 include seven Indian news channels, a statement from the Information and Broadcasting ministry said.

The blocked YouTube channels had over 114 crore views and 85.73 lakh subscribers and the content was being monetised, it said. The blocked channels are Loktantra TV, U&V TV, A M Razvi, Gouravshali Pawan Mithilanchal, SeeTop5TH, Sarkari Update, Sab Kuch Dekho and Pakistan-based News ki Duniya.

The 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, the statement said.

They also made false claims such as the demolition of religious structures by the government, ban on the celebration of religious festivals, and declaration of religious war in India, it added. “Such content was found to have the potential to create communal disharmony and disturb public order in the country,” it said.