Centre has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including those of prominent news outlets and former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar – for spreading provocative, false content aimed at inciting communal tensions and undermining India’s sovereignty and security, according to government sources.The banned channels, which collectively have around 63 million subscribers, include major Pakistani news outlets such as Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, Bol News, Geo News, Raftar, and Suno News. YouTube channels operated by journalists like Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, and Muneeb Farooq have also been blocked for Indian users. Other banned platforms include The Pakistan Reference, Samaa Sports, Uzair Cricket, and Razi Naama.The action, taken on the recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs, comes after it was discovered that these channels were spreading misinformation and content designed to fuel communal discord, particularly in the aftermath of the recent Pahalgam tragedy, where 25 tourists and a local were killed.
Source link
