Government Banned 94 YouTube Accounts in 2021-22 for Spreading Fake News

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday mentioned that the federal government blocked 94 YouTube channels, 19 social media accounts and 747 uniform useful resource locators (URLs) throughout 2021-22 for spreading pretend information.

Responding to a query in Rajya Sabha, Minister Thakur mentioned that these actions have been taken beneath Section 69A of the Information Technology Act 2000.

The minister mentioned that the federal government has strongly acted towards businesses working towards the sovereignty of the nation by spreading pretend information and spreading propaganda on the web.

Thakur mentioned that in an effort to examine the unfold of COVID-19 associated pretend information, a devoted cell of the actual fact checking unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) was created on March 31, 2020, to which individuals can refer data associated to COVID for verification.

The unit has responded to 34,125 actionable queries, together with queries associated to COVID-19, Thakur mentioned, including that the PIB has additionally busted pretend information and 875 posts thereof on its social media platforms.

The claims from the I&B Minister come as India is planning to suggest new IT guidelines. India plans to type a authorities panel to listen to appeals towards content material moderation selections might lack independence. The proposed coverage change is the most recent flashpoint between India and know-how giants which have for years mentioned stricter laws are hurting their enterprise and funding plans. It additionally comes as India clashes with Twitter in a high-profile spat, which just lately noticed the social media agency sue the federal government in a neighborhood courtroom to revoke some content material removing orders.

The June proposal mandates social media firms should adjust to a newly shaped authorities panel which is able to determine on consumer complaints towards content material moderation selections. The authorities has not specified who could be on the panel.

However, the brand new Indian proposal was open for public session till early July and no mounted date for implementation has been set.