NEW DELHI: The information and broadcasting ministry’s PIB Fact Check Unit on Friday said it had “busted” nine YouTube channels with a cumulative 83 lakh subscribers for misattributing derogatory statements to the Chief Justice of India, the Prime Minister and the chief election commissioneramong others.
The channels had disseminated false information, including claims that President’s rule had been imposed in certain states, electronic voting machines (EVMs) had been banned, and Union ministers had resigned or died.Instances offake news included ban on Rs 200 and Rs 500 currency notes, closures of banks, and false information related to government schemes and policies. They also pertained to false claims related to natural disasters and deaths of Indian citizens, deployment of armed forces, and closure of schools.
The incidents, sources said, led to concerns over YouTube allowing an ecosystem where fake news was being monetised and clickbait and sensational false thumbnails were being used to drive traffic.
As a consequence of such false information, the GDP Fact Check Unit said it identified nine YouTube channels – GTV, Bajrang Education, Aapke Guruji, BJ News, Sansani Live TV, Daily Study, Bharat Ekta News, Ab Bolega Bharat and Sarkari Yojana Official – which were using thumbnails and images of TV news channels and their news anchors to mislead viewers into believing that the news shared by them was authentic.
Though there was no word from the government on whether the channels will be taken down, the government fact checker said it has, since December 2022, “exposed” 26 YouTube channels that regularly showed false information. Additionally, over 120 YouTube channels have been blocked by the I&B ministry under provisions of the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
The channels had disseminated false information, including claims that President’s rule had been imposed in certain states, electronic voting machines (EVMs) had been banned, and Union ministers had resigned or died.Instances offake news included ban on Rs 200 and Rs 500 currency notes, closures of banks, and false information related to government schemes and policies. They also pertained to false claims related to natural disasters and deaths of Indian citizens, deployment of armed forces, and closure of schools.
The incidents, sources said, led to concerns over YouTube allowing an ecosystem where fake news was being monetised and clickbait and sensational false thumbnails were being used to drive traffic.
As a consequence of such false information, the GDP Fact Check Unit said it identified nine YouTube channels – GTV, Bajrang Education, Aapke Guruji, BJ News, Sansani Live TV, Daily Study, Bharat Ekta News, Ab Bolega Bharat and Sarkari Yojana Official – which were using thumbnails and images of TV news channels and their news anchors to mislead viewers into believing that the news shared by them was authentic.
Though there was no word from the government on whether the channels will be taken down, the government fact checker said it has, since December 2022, “exposed” 26 YouTube channels that regularly showed false information. Additionally, over 120 YouTube channels have been blocked by the I&B ministry under provisions of the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.