In blatant violation of the freedom of expression and freedom of speech, the Indian government has blocked seven more Indian and one Pakistani YouTube channels over criticism of Modi regime’s policies inside India and in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The Indian Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on Thursday said that it has blocked eight YouTube channels, including seven from India and one from Pakistan. In an official statement, the Ministry said that it also issued orders on August 16, 2022, for blocking one Facebook account, and two Facebook posts.
“The blocked YouTube channels had a cumulative viewership of over 114 crores, were subscribed by over 85 lakh users,” it said.
The order said that the YouTube channels were also involved in criticizing the atrocities of Indian armed forces in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The content was “sensitive from the perspective of national security and India’s friendly relations with foreign States, the Ministry informed”.
“The content blocked by the Ministry was found to be detrimental to sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, India’s friendly relations with foreign States, and public order in the country,” the official statement read.
The channels have been blocked for being critical of Modi government’s discriminatory policies against minorities and its departure from secular ideology of the Indian constitution. So far, India has blocked 102 YouTube channels over the past few years.—INP
