India's I&B ministry bans 22 YouTube channels over fake news

New Delhi: Cracking down on fake news, India has banned 22 YouTube-based news channels including four from Pakistan.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting reportedly alleged that fake news spread by these channels could impact national security, foreign relations and public order.

This is the first time since the notification of the IT Rules, 2021, Indian YouTube-based news channels face action, according to a report in Zee News.

The order issued on Monday sought to block 22 YouTube channels, three Twitter accounts, one Facebook account and one news website.

Alongside, since December 2021 authorities have issued directions to block 78 YouTube-based news channels and several social media accounts on the grounds of national security, sovereignty and public order.

The fresh order is to block 18 Indian plus four Pakistan-based YouTube channels. The ministry however hasn't named them.

According to an official statement, YouTube channels blocked have a total of over 260 core viewers.

They were spreading fake news and coordinated disinformation over social media on subjects sensitive from the perspective of national security, India's foreign relations, and public order, the report said.

Using multiple channels, fake news has been spread on subjects including the Indian Armed Forces, Jammu and Kashmir. It further said that anti-India content was posted from multiple social media accounts in a coordinated manner from Pakistan.

The ministry reportedly observed false content being published by Indian YouTube channels about the Ukraine crisis, in order to "jeopardising' India's foreign relations.

In order to mislead viewers, the blocked Indian YouTube channels were using templates and logos of certain TV news channels as well as the images of their news anchors, the ministry reportedly said.

To make content viral, false thumbnails, title and frequent altering of thumbnails were applied, the report said. The systematic anti-India fake news originating from Pakistan was also observed.

The ministry said the government of India remains committed to ensure safe, trustworthy, authentic online news media environs, while blocking attempt to undermining India's sovereignty, national security and foreign relations.

See the full list of YouTube channels blocked below:

Indian YouTube Channels

ARP News (Total Views: 4,40,68,652)

AOP News (Total Views: 74,04,673)

LDC News (4,72,000 subscribers and 6,46,96,730 total views)

SarkariBabu (2,44,000 subscribers and 4,40,14,435 total views)

SS ZONE Hindi (Total Views:5,28,17,274)

Smart News (Total Views: 13,07,34,161)

News23Hindi (Total Views: 18,72,35,234)

Online Khabar (Total Views: 4,16,00,442)

DP news (Total Views: 11,99,224)

PKB News (Total Views: 2,97,71,721)

KisanTak (Total Views: 36,54,327)

Borana News (Total Views: 2,46,53,931)

Sarkari News Update (Total Views: 2,05,05,161)

Bharat Mausam (2,95,000 subscribers and 7,04,14,480 Total Views)

RJ ZONE 6 (Total Views: 12,44,07,625)

Exam Report (Total Views: 3,43,72,553)

Digi Gurukul (Total Views: 10,95,22,595)

दिनभरकीखबरें (Total Views: 23,69,305)

Pakistan-based YouTube channels

DuniyaMeryAagy (4,28,000 subscribers and 11,29,96,047 total views)

Ghulam NabiMadni (Total Views: 37,90,109)

HAQEEQAT TV (40,90,000 subscribers and 1,46,84,10,797 Total Views)

HAQEEQAT TV 2.0 (3,03,000 subscribers and 37,542,059 total views)