India blocks Pakistan-funded 35 YouTube channels, fake news websites

In a major crackdown against Pakistan-funded fake news network, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Friday said that it has blocked 35 YouTube Channels, two Twitter accounts, two Instagram accounts, one Facebook account and two fake news websites. Officials said these social media handles and fake news websites were involved in spreading anti-India fake news in a coordinated manner over digital media.

New Delhi: In a major crackdown against Pakistan-funded fake news network, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Friday said that it has blocked 35 YouTube Channels, two Twitter accounts, two Instagram accounts, one Facebook account and two fake news websites. Officials said these social media handles and fake news websites were involved in spreading anti-India fake news in a coordinated manner over digital media.

“The YouTube accounts blocked by the Ministry had a total subscriber base of over 1 crore 20 lakh, and their videos had over 130 crore views. Additionally, two Twitter accounts, two Instagram accounts, and one Facebook account have also been blocked by the Government for being involved in spreading coordinated anti-India disinformation over the internet,” said the government.

The ministry issued five separate orders under Rule 16 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 for blocking these Pakistan based social media accounts and websites.

Officials said Indian intelligence agencies were closely monitoring these social media accounts and websites and flagged them to the ministry of information and broadcasting for immediate action.

Coordinated Disinformation Network

According to officials, the major crackdown was against the 35 YouTube channels and all of them were operating from Pakistan. They were identified to be a part of four coordinated disinformation networks. These include the Apni Duniya Network operating 14 YouTube channels, and Talha Films Network operating 13 YouTube channels. A set of four channels and two other YouTube channels were also found to be acting in synchronization with each other.

“All these networks appeared to be operated with a single goal of spreading fake news oriented towards the Indian audience. The channels which were part of a network used common hashtags and editing styles were being operated by common persons, and cross-promoted each other’s content. Some of the YouTube channels were being operated by anchors of Pakistani TV news channels,” said the government.

Sensitive contents related to India

Officials said the YouTube channels, websites, and other social media accounts blocked by the ministry were used by Pakistan for spreading anti-India fake news about sensitive subjects related to India. These include topics such as the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir, and India’s foreign relations with other countries.

“It was observed that rampant fake news was spread through the YouTube channels regarding the demise of the former Chief of Defence Staff Late General Bipin Rawat. These YouTube channels had also started posting content to undermine the democratic process of the upcoming elections in five states,” said the government.

Officials said these channels propagated content to encourage separatism, divide India on the lines of religion, and create animosity among the various sections of the Indian society which could public order in the country. This is the second time in the last two months when Indian authorities have taken action against Pakistan based fake news networks active on social media.

In December last year, the authorities had blocked Pakistan-funded 20 YouTube channels and 2 websites using the emergency powers under the IT Rules of 2021.