JournalismPakistan.com | Published August 20, 2022
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ISLAMABAD—The Indian government has ordered the blocking of eight YouTube channels, including one operating from Pakistan, for allegedly using "fake and sensational thumbnails" and spreading disinformation about India's national security.
In a statement, the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said that the channels were observed to be "using fake and sensational thumbnails," images of news anchors, and logos of specific TV news channels to mislead viewers to believe that the news was authentic.
According to the ministry, YouTube channels made false claims, such as the demolition of religious structures by the government and the ban on the celebration of religious festivals.
The eight blocked channels, with more than 114 crore views and 85.73 lakh subscribers, are Loktantra TV, U&V TV, A M Razvi, Gouravshali Pawan Mithilanchal, SeeTop5TH, Sarkari Update, Sab Kuch Dekho, and Pakistan-based News ki Duniya.
This is the fifth instance since December 2021 of the ministry invoking the emergency powers available to it under the IT Rules to block digital media resources, The Times of India reported. "So far, the government has issued directions for blocking 102 such channels on YouTube and other social media platforms," the paper said.
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