Overview

• The Indian government has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and journalists, for allegedly spreading false and sensitive content.
• The ban, enacted on Union Home Ministry advice, comes after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, including 25 Indian tourists and one Nepali citizen.
• Collectively, the banned channels reached over 63 million subscribers, with content accused of targeting the Indian Army and promoting communal unrest.
• High-profile channels affected include those of Pakistani cricket figures Shoaib Akhtar, Basit Ali, and Tanveer Ahmed, though Shahid Afridi's channel remains accessible in India.
• Viewers attempting to access the blocked channels in India encounter a YouTube message stating the content is restricted due to a government order related to national security.