I&B Ministry blocks 18 Indian, 4 Pakistan-based YouTube channels

The government has ordered blocking of 22 YouTube news channels, including four from Pakistan, for allegedly spreading fake news that could impact national security, foreign relations and public order, and for misleading viewers by using fake logos.

The information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry issued the blocking orders under emergency provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

Indian intelligence agencies were closely monitoring these social media accounts and websites, and flagged them to the ministry for immediate action, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.


It said the ministry issued an order on Monday to block 22 YouTube channels, three Twitter accounts, one Facebook account, and one news website.

I&B minister Anurag Thakur said 18 of the blocked channels used to operate from within the country. They were spreading organised propaganda against India and violating IT rules, he alleged.

The ministry’s statement said the blocked channels were spreading fake content on various subjects such as the Indian Armed Forces, Jammu and Kashmir, and amplifying anti-India content shared by multiple social media accounts operated from Pakistan. “It was observed that a significant amount of false content published by these Indian YouTube-based channels related to the ongoing situation in Ukraine, and aimed at jeopardising India’s foreign relations with other countries,” it added.

Since December 2021, the ministry has issued directions for blocking 78 YouTube-based news channels and several other social media accounts on grounds related to national security, sovereignty and integrity of India, and public order among others.

The ministry had taken action against 35 online channels for spreading fake content about former CDS Bipin Rawat, his family, Kashmir, the Indian Army, India's position with respect to China, the sentiment of separatism in some states, and other issues.

Ministry officials told ET that the government was using the best technology to identify anti-India propaganda.

In a response to a parliament question recently, the ministry had said anti-India criteria was not defined, but 55 YouTube channels operating mostly out of Pakistan have been blocked in the last two months.