Pakistani Youtube Channel Ban: The Centre has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including some leading channels like Dawn News, Samaa TV, Ary News, and Geo News, for disseminating provocative and communally sensitive content, and false and misleading narratives and misinformation against India, its Army and security agencies after the Pahalgam terror attack. A source said the decision was taken on the back of the terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people, and recommendations were made by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). All these 16 channels have 63.08 million followers. “Dawn News TV is one of the leading news channels of Pakistan and has 1.96 million followers, Samaa TV channel has 12.7 m followers, Irshad Bhatti channel has 827 k followers, Ary news channel has 14.6 m followers, Bol news channel has 7.85m followers, Raftar channel has 804k followers, The Pakistan Reference channel has 288k followers,” a source said. “Geo News channel has 18.1 m followers, Samaa Sports channel has 73.5 k followers, GNN channel has 3.54 m followers, Uzair cricket channel has 288 k followers, Umar Cheema Exclusive channel has 125 k followers, Asma Shirazi channel has 133 k followers, Muneeb Faroor chancel has 165 k followers, Suno News HD channel has 1.36 m followers, and Razi Naama channel has 270k followers,” added the source. If one tries to access these channels, they can see the following message, “This content is currently unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order. For more details about government removal requests, please visit the Google Transparency Report (transparencyreport.google.com)”. A source said that after the BBC India termed the terrorists as "militants" in one of its reports, the Centre approached the channel head, Jackie Martin, via the Ministry of External Affairs, and conveyed their strong sentiments to him. "New Delhi's concerns have been strongly conveyed to the BBC by the MEA XP Division, and now the XP Division will be monitoring further reporting of the BBC,” the source said. Similar concerns have also been expressed to American news agency AP (Associated Press) and UK-based news agency Reuters, sources told The Indian Express. The MEA will continue to monitor the reportage and flag to those concerned about anything which it feels undermines the severity of the situation, or is factually incorrect. Another source said several Pakistan URLs are duping Indians after claiming that they are collecting money for war, and the MHA, with the help of I4C, has blocked several URLs in the last four days. “The Centre has issued directions to all the ministries, departments, and agencies to strengthen their cyber system to prevent any cyber-attack generated from the Pakistan-based hacker groups,” the source said. Days after the terror attack in Pahalgam, the Centre first announced suspension of visa services to Pakistan nationals and also asked states to identify people under 14 visa categories — including film, journalist, pilgrim, business — and ensure their prompt return.
