YouTube channels blocked: The central government has taken action against YouTube channels spreading false information. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (Ministry of I&B) has blocked around 45 videos on 10 channels. The order to block the related video was issued on September 23 under the provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediate Guidelines and Digital Media Code of Conduct) Rules, 2021. The blocked video has been viewed over 1.3 million times.
Why was the video blocked?
As per reports, this includes misinformation and morphed videos aimed at spreading hatred among religious communities. Examples include false claims that the government has taken away the religious rights of certain communities. It also includes threats of violence against religious communities, declaration of civil war in India. Such videos have been found to have the potential to create communal tension and disrupt public order in the country.
Some of the videos blocked by the ministry were used for propaganda on issues like Agneepath scheme, Indian Armed Forces, National Security Agency of India, Kashmir etc. The videos have been found to be sensitive from the point of view of national security and India’s friendly relations with foreign states. Some videos show parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh outside India’s borders. Such cartographic misrepresentation has been found to be detrimental to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India.
Meanwhile, on August 8, the Center took similar action. It blocked 7 Indian and 1 Pakistan based YouTube news channels. These blocked channels include Democracy TV, U&V TV, AM Rajvi, Glorious Pawan Mithilanchal, Sitop 5th, Sarkar Updates, Sab Kuch Dekho, News Ki Duniya which are Pakistan based channels. About 85 lakh users subscribed to this channel. Subscription taken. In addition, a Facebook account and two Facebook posts were blocked.
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