The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has ordered the blocking of 20 YouTube channels, and two websites, accusing them of “anti-India propaganda and fake news”. The ministry has ordered YouTube to block the 20 channels and the other, and issued another order for the blocking of “news websites” to “Department of Telecom to direct the internet service providers for blocking of the news channels/portals.” According to the ministry, these “channels and the websites belong to a coordinated disinformation network operating from Pakistan and spreading fake news about various sensitive subjects related to India.”

The identification was a result of “a closely coordinated effort between intelligence agencies and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,” it stated adding the channels and websites “were used to post divisive content in a coordinated manner on topics like Kashmir, Indian Army, minority communities in India, Ram Mandir, General Bipin Rawat,etc.” The modus operandi, according to the Ministry, was an “anti-India disinformation campaign involving the Naya Pakistan Group (NPG), operating from Pakistan, having a network of YouTube channels, and some other standalone YouTube channels not related to NPG.” The channels reportedly have  a combined subscriber base of over 35 lakh, and their videos had over 55 crore views, it added that some of the YouTube channels of the NPG “were being operated by anchors of Pakistani news channels.”

These YouTube channels had also reportedly featured “content on issues such as the farmers’ protest, protests related to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, and tried to incite the minorities against the Government of India,” said the ministry, adding that “these YouTube channels had also posted content on issues such as the farmers’ protest, protests related to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, and tried to incite the minorities against the Government of India. It was also feared that these YouTube channels would be used to post content to undermine the democratic process of the upcoming elections in five states.”

According to the media statement, “The Ministry has acted to secure the information space in India, and utilized emergency powers under the Rule 16 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The Ministry observed that Most of the content pertains to subjects sensitive from the perspective of national security and are factually incorrect, and are being mainly posted from Pakistan as a coordinated disinformation network (as in the case of Naya Pakistan Group) against India and thus deemed it fit for action under the provisions to block content in case of emergency.” It also shared a massive annexure that included statistics and details of the YouTube channels ordered to be blocked by the Ministry of Information. It may be read here.

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Digital media should remain free of direct government control, said the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI(M)) on November 12, 2020.

The CPI(M) opposed a notification of the central government that brought all online media platforms and online content providers within the ambit of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B.)

“This notification is a clear expression of intent that the central government is now moving to “regulate” digital media content. Having muzzled the print and electronic/visual media to a considerable extent, it is moving to control digital media,” said party members in a press release.

Earlier, online content came under the Ministry of Information and Electronic Technology and was subject to various provisions under the Information Technology (IT) Act regarding digital platforms and intermediaries. According to the organisation, the existing laws and IT Act are adequate for the purpose of a healthy digital media.

However, under the new notification signed by President Ram Nath Kovind, films, audio-visual programmes, news and similar content would be screened by the I&B Ministry from the date of issuance.

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri and cinephiles on social media have also expressed their reservations regarding the recent announcement.

Brilliant news. Perversion and psychotic content must be regulated. They are slowly turning OTT into not just soft-porn, gore and abusive platforms but also as religious, cultural and political weapons. https://t.co/J52C0PfMrn

— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) November 11, 2020

Lots of films nd shows criticising right wing politics have been releasing in online streaming platforms nd now the government has brought OTT contents nd digital news under the regulation of Ministry of I & B. Expect a lot of bollywood deshbhakth film announcements nd a pic.twitter.com/3D7Ij7qclW

— Ananthakrishnan H (@ak070499) November 11, 2020

Last year, I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar over-the-top (OTT) platforms required regulations just as other forms of media like print, news channel, advertisements and films work under corresponding presiding authorities.

Related:

OTT content now under the Information and Broadcasting Ministry of India
Plea in Delhi HC seeks regulating news channels from broadcasting content on communal disharmony
Erosion of Right to Free Speech leading to destruction of Right to Dissent: Justice Madan Lokur
Double assault on freedom of press: PUCL 

The post CPI(M) demands freedom of digital media from government control appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The decision was apparently taken by the ministry for revealing “strategically-sensitive” information while covering the Pathankot attack in January. The office-bearers from the Guild have called it a direct violation of the freedom of media and have said that it reminded people of Emergency.

Here’s the full text of the statement from the Editors Guild of India:

The Editors Guild of India strongly condemns the unprecedented decision of the inter-ministerial committee of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to take NDTV India off the air for a day and demands that the order be immediately rescinded.

The ostensible reason for the order as reported is that the channel's coverage of the Pathankot terror attack on January 2, 2016 that the government claims gave out sensitive information to the handlers of terrorists. NDTV in its response to a show cause by the government has maintained that its coverage was sober and did not carry any information that had not been covered by the rest of the media, and was in the public domain.

The decision to take the channel off the air for a day is a direct violation of the freedom of the media and therefore the citizens of India and amounts to harsh censorship imposed by the government reminiscent of the Emergency. This first-of-its-kind order to impose a blackout has seen the Central government entrust itself with the power to intervene in the functioning of the media and take arbitrary punitive action as and when it does not agree with the coverage. There are various legal remedies available to both a citizen and a state in the Court of Law to have action taken for any irresponsible media coverage. Imposing a ban without resorting to judicial intervention or oversight violates the fundamental principles of freedom and justice. The Editors Guild of India calls for an immediate withdrawal of the ban order.
 

NDTV too issued a statement following the ministry's decision to ban its airing for a day. It expressed "shock" and claimed that NDTV's coverage was comparatively balanced.

It said, "The order of the MIB has been received. It is shocking that NDTV has been singled out in this manner. Every channel and newspaper had similar coverage. In fact NDTV's coverage was particularly balanced. After the dark days of the emergency when the press was fettered, it is extraordinary that NDTV is being proceeded against in this manner. NDTV is examining all options in this matter."

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