New Delhi: The Indian government has banned 16 YouTube channels linked to Pakistan for spreading misleading and harmful content about the Indian Army and security agencies. The action follows a thorough investigation by Indian authorities into the channels’ activities, which were found to be deliberately spreading false narratives to undermine India’s security forces.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an official order on Monday, citing the channels’ engagement in publishing anti-India content and the dissemination of propaganda aimed at destabilising the nation. The banned channels were found to be using deceptive titles and thumbnails to attract viewers, spreading false information regarding various incidents, including military operations and internal security matters.
The banned channels were reportedly operated from Pakistan, and many of them were found to be connected to entities with known links to anti-India activities. Indian authorities have stated that the content from these channels was aimed at maligning the image of the Indian armed forces and sowing discord among citizens.
This move is part of the ongoing effort by the Indian government to counter misinformation and maintain national security, particularly through digital platforms. The Indian Ministry emphasised the importance of a vigilant approach to the use of social media, as such content has the potential to incite unrest and mislead the public.
The channels, which had a significant following, will now be restricted in India, and their content will be removed from YouTube.
