JAKARTA – A total of 22 YouTube channels have been banned in India, including four in Pakistan, for spreading disinformation on national security and public order issues in that country.

India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said blocked YouTube channels had a total of 2.6 billion viewers. All of these channels attempt to use designs and logos similar to those of credible media outlets.

The channel's videos also use misleading images, catchy titles and share misinformation on a number of topics, including the Indian armed forces and the current situation in Ukraine, in order to damage India's relations with other countries. other countries.

In doing so, the government invoked emergency powers under new IT rules introduced in 2021, largely aimed at regulating large social media companies and giving the government more powers to remove content.

The government first used this power late last year, blocking 18 YouTube channels. The government also said it had blocked 55 YouTube channels as well as several Facebook and Twitter social media accounts since December.

“Several YouTube channels are being used to publish fake news on various topics such as Indian Armed Forces, Jammu and Kashmir, etc.,” India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was quoted as saying by ReutersWednesday 6 April.

“The content ordered to be blocked also includes some anti-India content posted from multiple social media accounts run in a coordinated manner from Pakistan,” it added.

Reportedly, India has demanded tougher action from US tech giants including Google and Facebook over the spread of fake news on their platforms.

At a meeting in February, officials told the companies that their inaction had forced the government to order the content removed, sparking international criticism that India was harshly suppressing free speech.

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