Government Blocks 22 YouTube Channels, 3 Twitter accounts, 1 Facebook account, and 1 news website

Government Blocks 22 YouTube Channels, 3 Twitter accounts, 1 Facebook account, and 1 news website

Government Blocks 22 YouTube Channels, 3 Twitter accounts, 1 Facebook account, and 1 news website

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has issued press release regarding the latest action taken by the government against social media handles.

Ministry of I&B blocks 22 YouTube channels for spreading disinformation related to India’s national security, foreign relations and public order

18 Indian YouTube news channels blocked for the first time under IT Rules, 2021

YouTube channels used logos of TV news channels & false thumbnails to mislead viewers

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, utilizing the emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021, has issued orders on 04.04.2022 for blocking of twenty-two (22) YouTube based news channels, three (3) Twitter accounts, one (1) Facebook account, and one (1) news website. The blocked YouTube channels had a cumulative viewership of over 260 crore, and were used to spread fake news, and coordinated disinformation over social media on subjects sensitive from the perspective of national security, India’s foreign relations, and public order.

Action on Indian YouTube based news channels

This is the first time action has been taken on the Indian YouTube based news publishers since the notification of the IT Rules, 2021 in February last year.Through the recent blocking order, eighteen (18) Indian and four (4) Pakistan based YouTube news channels have been blocked.

Analysis of Content

Multiple YouTube channels were used to post fake news on various subjects such as the Indian Armed Forces, Jammu and Kashmir, etc. The content ordered to be blocked also included certain anti-India content posted from multiple social media accounts operated in a coordinated manner from Pakistan.

It was observed that a significant amount of false content published by the these Indian YouTube based channels related to the ongoing situation in Ukraine, and aimed at jeopardizing India’s foreign relations with other countries.

Modus Operandi

The blocked Indian YouTube channels were using templates and logos of certain TV news channels, including images of their news anchors to mislead the viewers to believe that the news was authentic. False thumbnails were used; and title and thumbnail of the videos were frequently altered to increase the virality of content on social media. In certain cases, it was also observed that systematic anti-India fake news was originating from Pakistan.

With this action, since December 2021, the Ministry has issued directions for blocking of 78 YouTube based news channels and several other social media accounts on grounds related to national security, sovereignty and integrity of India, public order, etc.

The Government of India remains committed towards ensuring an authentic, trustworthy, and safe online news media environment, and thwart any attempts at undermining India’s sovereignty and integrity, national security, foreign relations, and public order.

Details of Social Media Accounts and Website Blocked

YouTube channels

Government Blocks 22 YouTube Channels, 3 Twitter accounts, 1 Facebook account, and 1 news website

Sl. NoYouTube Channel NameMedia Statistics
Indian YouTube channels
1. ARP NewsSubscribers: 
Total Views: 4,40,68,652
2.AOP NewsSubscribers: NA
Total Views: 74,04,673
3.LDC NewsSubscribers:  4,72,000
Total Views:6,46,96,730
4.SarkariBabuSubscribers:  2,44,000
Total Views: 4,40,14,435
5.SS ZONE HindiSubscribers:  N.ATotal Views:5,28,17,274
6.Smart NewsSubscribers: NA
Total Views: 13,07,34,161
7.News23HindiSubscribers: NA
Total Views: 18,72,35,234
8.Online KhabarSubscribers: NA
Total Views: 4,16,00,442
9.DP news Subscribers: NA
Total Views: 11,99,224
10.PKB News Subscribers: NA
Total Views: 2,97,71,721
11.KisanTakSubscribers:  NA
Total Views: 36,54,327
12.Borana NewsSubscribers: NA
Total Views: 2,46,53,931
13.Sarkari News UpdateSubscribers: NA 
Total Views: 2,05,05,161
14.Bharat MausamSubscribers: 2,95,000
Total Views: 7,04,14,480
15.RJ ZONE 6Subscribers:  NA
Total Views: 12,44,07,625
16.Exam ReportSubscribers: NA
Total Views: 3,43,72,553
17.Digi GurukulSubscribers:  NA
Total Views: 10,95,22,595
18.दिनभरकीखबरेंSubscribers: NA
Total Views: 23,69,305
Pakistan based YouTube channels
19.DuniyaMeryAagySubscribers: 4,28,000
Total Views: 11,29,96,047
20.Ghulam NabiMadniTotal Views:  37,90,109
21.HAQEEQAT TVSubscribers: 40,90,000
Total Views: 1,46,84,10,797
22.HAQEEQAT TV 2.0Subscribers: 3,03,000
Total Views: 37,542,059
    

Website

Sl .NoWebsite
 1Dunya Mere Aagy

Twitter accounts (All Pakistan based)

Sl .NoTwitter AccountNo. of followers
 1.Ghulam NabiMadni5,553
 2.DunyaMeryAagy4,063
 3.Haqeeqat TV323,800

Facebook account

Sl .NoFacebook AccountNo. of followers
 1.DunyaMeryAagy2,416

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