This action has been taken under section 69A of the IT Act which empowers the government to issue directions to any agency to block content in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India

India has taken strong action against websites, YouTube channels and social media accounts working against the interest of the country, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur said in the parliament on Thursday,

“The Ministry has acted against 94 YouTube channels, 19 social media accounts and 747 URLs and got them blocked. These actions have been taken under the Section 69A Information Technology Act 2000,” Anurag Thakur said in response to a question in Rajya Sabha (Upper House) on July 21

He also told the Upper House that the government has strongly acted against agencies working against the sovereignty of the country by spreading fake news and spreading propaganda on the internet.

Earlier, speaking in Lower House of Parliament, the Minister said section 69A of the IT Act empowers the Centre to issue directions to any government agency or an intermediary to block content in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to such matters.

In April this year, 22 YouTube channels were blocked for spreading misinformation and threatening the country’s sovereignty.

Earlier, in January 2022, India blocked 35 Pakistan-based YouTube channels and two websites for spreading anti-India fake news in a coordinated manner over digital media

On December 21 last year, the government said 20 YouTube channels were blocked under emergency provisions of the rules.