NEW DELHI: The government today  (August 17) ordered the blocking of 8 YouTube channels, including one operating from Pakistan, for reportedly spreading disinformation related to India's national security, foreign relations and public order.

An official statement said that the restricted YouTube channels had over 114 crore views, 85.73 lakh subscribers, and the content was being monetized.

Seven Indian news stations are among the channels that were restricted in accordance with the Information Technology Rules-2021. An official statement claimed that the prohibited YouTube channels spread rumours that the Indian government had declared religious war and was demolishing religious buildings. It also claimed that religious festivals could not be celebrated.

According to the report, "Such content was found to have the potential to cause intergroup strife and destabilise national order."  It said the YouTube channels were also used to post fake news on various subjects such as the Indian Armed Forces and Jammu & Kashmir. "From the standpoint of national security and India's good connections with foreign States, the content was noted to be utterly untrue and sensitive", the statement read.

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