The blocked channels reportedly have a total of 85,73,000 subscribers and more than 114 crore views. These channels have gained 83 Lakh, 73,000 subscribers throughout their active operation.
Since February last year, the government has blocked access to 102 YouTube channels, many websites, and social media accounts. From rumors of “nuclear explosion” in the country to North Korea sending troops to Ayodhya, the 102 YouTube channels that the government banned were known to spread false information about India to their millions of subscribers regularly and “make money off of fake news,” according to officials.
The government started cracking down on these YouTube channels in December last year under the Information Technology Act, 2021.
Officials say that the government has blocked access to 102 YouTube channels, many websites, and social media accounts that used the templates and logos of popular TV channels to trick viewers into thinking that the news they were showing was real. These rules were announced in February of last year.
A Ministry official said that the intelligence agencies have been keeping an eye on social media accounts and websites and sending information about them to the Ministry so that they can take action.
“Some of these channels even made money by selling fake news and running ads,” the official said.
The latest round of action happened last Thursday when the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting told YouTube to block eight channels, including one based in Pakistan, that were spreading fake news about things like a ban on Bakra-eid celebrations in India, “attacks” on places of Muslim worship, and an “invasion” of Turkey by India and Egypt.
A YouTube channel called A M Razvi talked about “military action on Ajmer Dargah” and “Muslims flying an Islamic flag on a temple,” while Pakistan-based channels called “News ki Duniya” said that the “Qutub Minar mosque” had been destroyed.
Another YouTube channel called “Naya Pakistan Global” said that Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, had sent his army to Ayodhya.
A Ministry official said, “The content that was blocked was found to be harmful to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, India’s good relations with other countries, and public order in the country.”
He said that the content fell under the Information Technology Act of 2000, Section 69A. To protect the country’s sovereignty and safety, section 69-A gives the government the power to block access to any content.
In January of this year, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting ordered YouTube channels to be blocked if they shared content meant to promote secession, divide India along religious lines, or make people hate each other.
It had found two networks: Apni Duniya Network, which ran 14 YouTube channels, and Talha Films Network, which ran 13 YouTube channels.
Another YouTube channel called “Cover Point” said that Pakistan and ISI “won” when India lost a nuclear warhead.
The Ministry had said, “All of these networks seemed to be run with the single goal of spreading fake news to an Indian audience.”
In December of last year, the Ministry said that the YouTube channels in question had also posted content about protests over things like the three farm laws and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act to turn minorities against the government.
“It was also feared that these YouTube channels would be used to post content that would hurt the democratic process of the upcoming elections in five states,” the Ministry said, referring to the elections in February in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Manipur.
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