New Delhi
Big Breaking: Big action by central government against 10 YouTube channels, 45 videos are also blocked

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (Ministry of I&B) has taken massive action against YouTube channels spreading misinformation. Around 45 videos from 10 channels have been blocked. Under the provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediate Guidelines and Digital Media Code of Ethics) Rules, 2021, orders to block the respective videos were issued on 23.09.2022. The blocked video was viewed more than 1.3 million times.

The content includes fake news and videos disseminated with the intention of spreading hatred among religious communities. Examples include false claims, such as government taking away religious rights of certain communities, threats of violence against religious communities, declaration of civil war in India. Such videos have the potential to create communal unrest and disrupt public order in the country.
Some of the videos blocked by the Ministry were being used to spread propaganda on issues related to Agneepath Yojana, Indian Armed Forces, India’s National Security Apparatus, Kashmir etc. The material was found to be inappropriate and sensitive from the point of view of national security and India’s friendly relations with foreign states.

Some videos show India’s false external border outside Indian territory with parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Such cartographic misrepresentation was found to be detrimental to India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The content blocked by the ministry was found to be harmful to India’s sovereignty and integrity, state security, India’s friendly relations with foreign states and public order in the country. Hence the content was brought under the purview of Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.