Govt will block websites, YouTube channels spreading lies, conspiring against India

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said on January 19 that the government will block websites and YouTube channels that will create hateful and anti-India content.

Sometimes back the government of India had taken a similar step in which it banned 20 YouTube channels and two websites that were deliberately spreading fake news to create disturbances and unrest in the country.

Thakur said this while talking to the reporters when he was asked about what action the government is taking on the anti-India digital propaganda.

Thakur said, “I had ordered for action against them.… I am happy that many big countries across the world took cognisance of it. YouTube also came forward and took action to block them.”

He added that in the future government will continue to take such action against any such effort. He said, “And in future also, action will be taken to block any such account hatching conspiracy against India, spreading lies and dividing the society.”

In a statement in December, the ministry had justified that ban on 20 YouTube channels and two websites saying that they belonged to “a coordinated disinformation network” and operated from Pakistan.

According to the Ministry, their sole purpose is to spread fake news about various sensitive subjects related to India.

Video and messages used to created and uploaded on these channels and websites to post “divisive content in a coordinated manner on topics like Kashmir, Indian army, minority communities in India, Ram Mandir, General Bipin Rawat, etc,” the Ministry had said in its statement.