India blocks 22 YouTube channels, including 4 from Pakistan, over alleged fake news

India has ordered the blocking of 22 YouTube-based news channels, of which 18 are Indian and four from Pakistan, for allegedly spreading fake news to mislead viewers.

This is the first time that action has been taken against the Indian YouTube-based news publishers since the notification of the IT Rules, 2021 in February last year, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

In an official statement, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said it issued an order on Monday to block 22 YouTube channels, three Twitter accounts, one Facebook account and one news website.

Through the recent blocking order, 18 Indian and four 4 Pakistan-based YouTube news channels have been blocked, the ministry said, without naming them.

With this action, the ministry has, since December 2021, 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, public order, etc.

The blocked YouTube channels had a cumulative viewership of over 260 crore, the ministry said in a statement, adding 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.

According to the ministry, 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 was published by the Indian YouTube channels related to the ongoing situation in Ukraine and aimed at jeopardising India's relations with other countries, according to the statement.

The ministry said 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.