The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) blocked 78 YouTube-based news channels and their social media accounts in 2021 and 2022 for violation of Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, I&B minister Anurag Thakur has informed the Lok Sabha.

He further stated that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has blocked 560 YouTube URLs during the same period.

Thakur has said that Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, empowers the central government 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.

"Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued directions for blocking of 78 YouTube-based news channels and their social media accounts for public access during 2021 and 2022 for violation of Section 69A of Information Technology Act, 2000. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has blocked 560 YouTube URLs during the years 2021 and 2022," Thakur said in the Lok Sabha.

In response to another question on violation of the Programme Code by TV channels, Thakur said that the government has taken action in respect of 163 cases by issuing advisories, warnings, apology scroll orders, and off-air orders.

The programmes telecast on private satellite TV channels are required to adhere to the Programme Code laid down in Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 framed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, he added.

The Programme Code provides that no programme should be telecast that contains an attack on religions or communities or has visuals or words contemptuous of religious groups or which promotes communal attitudes.

He also informed that the central government has amended the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994, in June 2021 to provide for a statutory mechanism for redressal of grievances/ complaints of violation of Programme Code and Advertising Codes of the broadcast by television channels.

"The ministry also issues advisories from time to time to private satellite TV channels for adhering to the Programme Code. This ministry had issued an advisory on 23.04.2022 to all private satellite TV channels to ensure strict compliance with the Programme Code under Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and rules framed thereunder," he stated.