Lecture Notes: India Blocks 16 Pakistani YouTube Channels

Overview

• Event: India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels.
• Reason: Cited reasons include "national security" and "public order."
• Date: Ban enforced on Monday, April 28, 2025.

Affected Channels

• Media Organizations: Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, Geo News, Bol News, SUNO News HD.
• Freelance Journalists & Content Creators: Raftar, GNN, Irshad Bhatti, The Pakistan Reference, Umar Cheema Exclusive, Asma Shirazi, Muneeb Farooq, Raazi Nama.
• Sportspersons: Shoaib Akhtar's channel.
• Comedians: Shehzad Ghias’s podcast channel, The Pakistan Experience.

Responses & Reactions

• Pakistan: No official comment from Pakistani authorities.
• India: Action recommended by India's Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Coverage: BBC criticized by Indian Ministry of External Affairs for terminology used in Pahalgam attack coverage.

NCERT Advisory

• Issued By: National Cyber Emergency Response Team (N-CERT) in India.
• Warnings:
  • Avoid sharing sensitive national security information.
  • Caution against videos/images revealing troop movements.
  • Risks include jeopardizing national security and aiding adversaries.
  • Deepfake videos may cause civil unrest.
• Recommendations:
  • Do not film military activities.
  • Avoid engaging with or spreading unverified military-related posts.
  • Report disinformation and deepfakes.

Context

• Geopolitical Tensions: Escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
• External Affairs: Indian objections to BBC coverage.
• Cybersecurity: Potential risk of state-sponsored cyberattacks against Pakistan.

Additional Information

• Publication: Information published in Dawn on April 29, 2025.
• Source: Article references The Hindu for supplementary details on account blocking.