Munmun Kaur
Published On: December 22, 2021 at 14:25 IST
The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, on Monday ordered for blocking of 20 YouTube channels and 2 websites claiming that they were spreading ‘Anti-India propaganda’ and ‘Fake news’.
The order was given under the provision of Rule 16 of the new Information Technology Rules which allows Authorities to block content ‘In case of Emergency’.
The Ministry in its statement released on Tuesday stated, “In a closely coordinated effort between intelligence agencies and the ministry of information and broadcasting, the ministry on Monday ordered blocking of 20 channels on YouTube and two websites spreading anti-India propaganda and fake news on the internet”.
The statement also included that the channels were used to post divisive content on sensitive topics like Ram Mandir, General Bipin Rawat, Kashmir, minority communities of India, etc. The Ministry also claimed that 15 out of 20 blocked YouTube channels belonged to a networking group called ‘The Naya Pakistan Group’. The group operates in Pakistan and some of the channels were even being operated by the Pakistani news anchors.
The Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting stated, “These channels and web portals were in Violation of the Law…Strict action has been taken against websites which seek to promote Pakistan’s agenda and prevent them from working against India.”
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