India has banned 16 YouTube channels from Pakistan for spreading false and harmful information, according to government sources. The decision was made following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 25 tourists and one local person were killed by terrorists.

The ban was carried out based on recommendations from the Union Home Ministry.

Many of the banned YouTube channels are popular news outlets and journalists in Pakistan.

These include: Dawn, Samaa TV, ARY News, Bol News, Geo News, Suno News, and Raftar.

YouTube channels of journalists like Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, and Muneeb Farooq were also blocked. Other banned accounts include The Pakistan Reference, Samaa Sports, Uzair Cricket, and Razi Naama.

Together, these 16 YouTube channels had over 63 million subscribers.

Why were these channels blocked?

According to the government, these YouTube channels were spreading provocative and sensitive content meant to disturb peace, false stories, and wrong information about India and its Army, and were posting content that could cause tension between communities.

The government believed these videos could create problems during an already tense time between India and Pakistan after the tragic Pahalgam terror attack.

 

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