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India Blocks 16 Pakistani YouTube Channels Over Misinformation Post-Pahalgam Attack

The banned channels, with 63 million subscribers, were accused of spreading false narratives against India, while New Delhi also formally objected to BBC's terminology in its coverage.

Security personnel inspect the site in the aftermath of an attack as food stall chairs lie empty in Pahalgam.
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Shoaib Akhtar's YouTube channels banned in India post Pahalgam attack
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Overview

  • India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for disseminating communally sensitive misinformation following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
  • The blocked platforms include prominent outlets like Geo News, Dawn, and ARY News, as well as channels run by notable journalists and commentators such as Muneeb Farooq and Asma Shirazi.
  • The channels, with a combined 63 million subscribers, were accused of targeting India, its Army, and security agencies with provocative and misleading content.
  • The ban is part of a broader response to the attack, which also includes suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and revoking Pakistani visas.
  • India has also sent a formal letter to the BBC, objecting to its use of the term 'militants' instead of 'terrorists' in its reporting on the Pahalgam attack.