Blocking of 22 YouTube accounts, one news website, and some other social media accounts by Ministry of I&B

KalimNews, Kalimpong, 5 April 2022: More YouTube based news channels, Twitter accounts, Facebook accounts and news websites are blocked by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for circulating false and fake news. 

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, utilizing the emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021, has issued orders on 04.04.2022 for blocking of twenty-two (22) YouTube based news channels, three (3) Twitter accounts, one (1) Facebook account, and one (1) news website. 

Ministry of I & B in a press release circulated and received by KalimNews has stated that the blocked YouTube channels had a cumulative viewership of over 260 crore, and were used to spread fake news, and coordinated disinformation over social media on subjects sensitive from the perspective of national security, India’s foreign relations, and public order.

Action on Indian YouTube based news channels

This is the first time action has been taken on the Indian YouTube based news publishers since the notification of the IT Rules, 2021 in February last year.Through the recent blocking order, eighteen (18) Indian and four (4) Pakistan based YouTube news channels have been blocked.

Analysis of Content

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 published by the these Indian YouTube based channels related to the ongoing situation in Ukraine, and aimed at jeopardizing India’s foreign relations with other countries.

Modus Operandi

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. False thumbnails were used; and title and thumbnail of the videos were frequently altered to increase the virality of content on social media. In certain cases, it was also observed that systematic anti-India fake news was originating from Pakistan.

With this action, since December 2021, the Ministry has issued directions for blocking of 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 Government of India remains committed towards ensuring an authentic, trustworthy, and safe online news media environment, and thwart any attempts at undermining India’s sovereignty and integrity, national security, foreign relations, and public order.

Details of Social Media Accounts and Website Blocked 

                                         

Indian YouTube channels

Sl.No.  Name                                                        Media Statistics 

1. ARP News                                        Subscribers: Total Views: 4,40,68,652 

2. AOP News                                        Subscribers: NA Total Views: 74,04,673 

3. LDC News                                        Subscribers: 4,72,000 Total Views:6,46,96,730 

4. SarkariBabu                                      Subscribers: 2,44,000 Total Views: 4,40,14,435 

5. SS ZONE Hindi                                 Subscribers: N.A Total Views:5,28,17,274 

6. Smart News                                       Subscribers: NA Total Views: 13,07,34,161 

7. News23Hindi                                     Subscribers: NA Total Views: 18,72,35,234 

8. Online Khabar                                   Subscribers: NA Total Views: 4,16,00,442 

9. DP news                                            Subscribers: NA Total Views: 11,99,224 

10. PKB News                                       Subscribers: NA Total Views: 2,97,71,721 

11. KisanTak                                          Subscribers: NA Total Views: 36,54,327 

12. Borana News                                   Subscribers: NA Total Views: 2,46,53,931 

13. Sarkari News Update                      Subscribers: NA Total Views: 2,05,05,161 

14. Bharat Mausam                               Subscribers: 2,95,000 Total Views: 7,04,14,480  

15. RJ ZONE 6                                      Subscribers: NA Total Views: 12,44,07,625 

16. Exam Report                                    Subscribers: NA Total Views: 3,43,72,553 

17. Digi Gurukul                                     Subscribers: NA Total Views: 10,95,22,595 

18. दिनभरकीखबरें                                    Subscribers: NA Total Views: 23,69,305 

Pakistan based YouTube channels 

19. DuniyaMeryAagy                             Subscribers: 4,28,000 Total Views: 11,29,96,047 

20. Ghulam NabiMadni                          Total Views: 37,90,109 

21. HAQEEQAT TV                                Subscribers: 40,90,000 Total Views: 1,46,84,10,797 

22. HAQEEQAT TV 2.0                          Subscribers: 3,03,000 Total Views: 37,542,059

Website 

Sl .No Website 

1. Dunya Mere Aagy 

Twitter accounts (All Pakistan based) 

Sl .No  Twitter Account           No. of followers 

1. Ghulam NabiMadni             5,553 

2. DunyaMeryAagy                 4,063 

3. Haqeeqat TV                        323,800

Facebook account 

Sl.No Facebook Account        No. of followers 

1. DunyaMeryAagy                  2,416