The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I & B) of India has banned more than 150 websites and YouTube-based news channels since May 2021 for producing "anti-India" content, a media report said Monday quoting officials.
According to the report, the websites and channels were removed over violation of Section 69A of the Information Technology (IT) Act which empowers the Centre to issue directions to any government agency to block contents detrimental to the sovereignty, integrity, defence and security of India and friendly relations with foreign states.
"Over 150 websites and YouTube-based news channels have been brought down by the ministry in the past two years for producing anti-India content", India's vernacular daily The Hindustan Times reported quoting officials, who preferred not to be named.
The YouTube news channels, which were brought down, had over 12,123,500 subscribers and over 1,320,426,964 views in total.
Among the channels which were banned in India included Khabar with Facts, Khabar Taiz, Information Hub, Flash Now, Mera Pakistan, Hakikat Ki Duniya and Apni Dunya TV.
The I&B ministry has occasionally issued orders to take down YouTube channels for spreading misinformation and threatening the country's sovereignty under the new IT rules incorporated on February 25, 2021.
I&B minister Anurag Thakur informed Parliament in July last year that 78 YouTube-based news channels and 560 YouTube links were blocked for public access between 2021 and 2022 over violations.
He had said, "Any (social media) account that is trying to spin a conspiracy or mislead people will face action," according to the report.
In January last year, the Centre blocked 35 Pakistan-based YouTube channels and two websites for "spreading anti-India fake news in a coordinated manner over digital media", it added.
