Pakistani web sites and YouTube Channels blocked for anti-India faux information

In a serious crackdown towards networks peddling anti-India propaganda beneath the garb of stories, the ministry of data and broadcasting has blocked 2 web sites and 35 YouTube channels funded by Pakistan for spreading anti-India faux information. The order of blocking these networks was introduced on Friday twenty first January 2022 within the night by the press and data bureau.

The order mentions that “The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has ordered blocking of 35 YouTube-based news channels and 2 websites which 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.”

The PIB in its press launch concerning this order has additional stated, “Vide five separate orders issued under rule 16 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the Ministry has ordered to block these Pakistan based social media accounts and websites.” It should be famous that these social media accounts and web sites have been carefully monitored by Indian intelligence companies and the companies had flagged them to the Ministry for speedy motion.

ब्लॉक किए गए इन सभी अकाउंट में एक आम बात यह रही है कि ये पाकिस्तान से संचालित होते हैं और झूठे भारत विरोधी समाचार और अन्य सामग्री फैलाते हैं: संयुक्त सचिव, @MIB_India pic.twitter.com/lYh8Wz73xw

— पीआईबी हिंदी (@PIBHindi) January 21, 2022

The YouTube channels which have been blocked are:

Khabar with DetailsKhabar TaizGlobal TruthNew Global DetailsInformation HubFlash NowFaisal Tarar SpeaksApni Dunya TVHaqeekat ki DuniaShahzad AbbasMera Pakistan With ShahabKhabar With AhmadHR TvSabee KazmiSuch Tv NetworkSaqib SpeaksSalman Haidar OfficialSajid Gondal SpeaksMaleeha HashmeyUmar Daraz GondalKhoji TVKhoji TV 2.0Cover PointJunaid FlixNational StudioInformative worldDunyaOfficialStudio360Haqeeqat Tv NewsHaqeeqat TV 786Bol Media TVUrdu StudioZaki AbbasWhite NewsDNow

The web sites which have been blocked are White News and DNow.

Coordinated conspiracy to unfold faux information towards India

Explaining the modus operandi of the stated social media handles and web sites, the PIB has additional stated in its press launch “The 35 accounts blocked by the Ministry were all operating from Pakistan and were identified to be 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 a set of two other channels were also found to be acting in synchronization with each other.”

India strikes arduous on Pakistani Fake News Factories@MIB_India blocks Pakistan funded faux information networks

💠35 YouTube Channels
💠2 Twitter Accounts
💠2 Instagram Accounts
💠2 Websites
💠1 Facebook Account, for spreading anti-India faux information

🔗https://t.co/HvSUnj9g8D

— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 21, 2022

PIB has additional clarified that the only real objective of working these networks was spreading faux information particularly oriented in the direction of the Indian viewers. The PIB has additionally talked about how the widespread components within the contents of these channels have been recognized by the companies. It stated “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.”

What faux content material the channels have been sharing?

The PIB press launch has additionally recognized and specified the contents shared by these networks which primarily consists of spreading faux information about Indian armed forces. Efforts have been additionally being made by these networks to unfold the content material which will probably undermine the democratic processes within the upcoming meeting elections within the 5 states.

PIB has stated “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.”

These youtube channels and different social media handles have additionally been trying to encourage separatism in India primarily based on spiritual traces. The content material shared by them was a possible inciter of the acts of crime within the society which might, in flip, have an effect on the legislation and order state of affairs within the nation. Citing this, PIB has stated “The channels propagated content to encourage separatism, divide India based on the lines of religion, and create animosity among the various sections of the Indian society. Such information was feared to have the potential to incite the audience into the commission of crimes adversely affecting public order in the country.”

The checklist of the blocked networks

The newest blocklist as shared by the PIB consists of 14 channels from the ‘Apni Duniya Network’. The channels ‘Faisal Tarar Speaks’ and ‘Apni Dunya TV’ have been peddling false information that India is defeated by China in Ladakh and compelled to have interaction China within the talks. The channels ‘Haqeekat ki Dunia’, ‘Shahzad Abbas’, and ‘Mera Pakistan With Shahab’ have been sharing faux information about Hindu-Sikh fights in India and the federal government’s failure to deal with that. These channels additionally shared some content material on how Pakistan is overpowering India in varied sectors starting from cricket to the army. The channel ‘Khabar With Ahmad’ was seen sharing faux information about Khalistan and the conversion of Hindus into Islam in huge numbers. Another channel ‘HR Tv’ had ill-reported the unintentional demise of Late General Bipin Rawat. Other such channels are ‘Sabee Kazmi’, ‘Such Tv Network’, ‘Saqib Speaks’, ‘Salman Haidar Official’, ‘Sajid Gondal Speaks’, ‘Maleeha Hashmey’, and ‘Umar Daraz Gondal’. Similarly, there are 13 youtube channels of Talha Films and eight different youtube channels which at the moment are blocked.

White News and DNow News are the 2 web sites which can be blocked by the ministry of data and broadcasting.

This shouldn’t be the primary time that the federal government of India has taken motion towards such web sites and social media channels. Earlier in December 2021, the federal government of India had blocked 20 YouTube channels and a couple of web sites in December 2021 when the emergency powers beneath the IT Rules, 2021 have been first utilized to behave towards such anti-India faux information networks.