Blocked YouTube channels were spreading anti-India propaganda, know their modus operandi

New Delhi: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) on Thursday blocked 8 YouTube channels for spreading fake and anti-India propaganda, thus posing risk to national security & its relations to foreign countries.

Out of this, 7 YouTube channels are Indian and 1 Pakistani. Together they gathered huge subscriber base of more than 73 lakh and gathered more than 100 crore views. The content published and promoted on these YouTube channels were laced with hatred & anti-India sentiments and were also giving vent to animosity between religious communities in the country. And, more shocking is the fact they were reportedly making money out of hatred-filled programs.

These channels had monetized these anti-India content on YouTube.

Modus operandi of rogue YouTube channels

The blocked YouTube channels deployed various means to deceive & hoodwink the viewers with smart packaging of the content. They used to spread disinformation and sell fake news by using fake & sensational thumbnails in the videos. For earning credibility, these YouTube channels would use images of news anchors & also logos of particular
TV channels to further their agenda. At one end, they used to deceive the users while they would make others believe that the news was authentic.

These YouTube channels also displayed advertisements in their videos, which contained false content and also inflammatory in nature, thus putting communal harmony & public order in danger.

Since December 2021, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has been blocking YouTube channels carrying anti-India and incendiary content.

Fake claims promoted by YouTube channels

The blocked YouTube channels resorted to fake & falsified claims to further a particular agenda, aimed at driving a wedge between two communities.

These channels worked with a common motive of defaming the government by making fake & malicious claims. In some of the fake videos, it alleged that Government has ordered demolition of religious structures, banned celebration of certain festivals etc. An attempt was to create a fake narrative and created divide between communities.

These blocked channels were also posting information on matters pertaining to national security. They shared distorted and fabricated information on Indian Armed Forces, Jammu & Kashmir and more.