NEW DELHI: More than 150 websites and YouTube-based news channels have been taken down by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) since May 2021, as per official reports. These actions were prompted due to the production of content deemed "anti-India" & in violation of Section 69A of the IT Act.

According to a senior official from the I&B ministry, these websites and channels were shut down because their content was regarded to be harmful to India's interests. Khabar with Facts, Khabar Taiz, Information Hub, Flash Now, Mera Pakistan, Hakikat Ki Duniya, and Apni Dunya TV were among the YouTube news channels that were taken down. More than 12 million people subscribed to these channels, and they received more than 1.3 billion views overall.

The government may order the blocking of content that could endanger India's sovereignty and integrity, national defence, state security, friendly relations with other countries, public order, or incite any cognizable offence associated with these issues under Section 69A of the IT Act.

The content that the Ministry restricted was seen to be detrimental to India's sovereignty and integrity, state security, good ties with other countries, and domestic public order. As a result, the information was covered by section 69A of the Information Technology Act of 2000.

Anurag Thakur, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, informed Parliament in July of the previous year that 560 YouTube links and 78 YouTube-based news stations had been removed from public access because of infractions. Thakur emphasised that any social media account that tries to promote rumours or mislead users will be dealt with harshly.

According to the new IT regulations that went into effect on February 25, 2021, the I&B ministry has been actively issuing orders to remove YouTube channels that disseminate false information and endanger the sovereignty of the nation.

In addition, the Indian authorities suspended 35 YouTube channels and two websites with links to Pakistan in January of that year for spreading coordinated fake news critical of India online.

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