False news is a bigger menace than anything else right now. Not just because it is irresponsible and spreads like wildfire but also because it affects nation-building more than we credit it for. Recently, another unverified piece made the rounds on Twitter and YouTube, including a fake video of a cabinet briefing (animated), depicting violence against the Prime Minister, and disparaging statements directed at women. Needless to say, this has not gone down well with the government, trying to curb the rampant misinformation of inflammatory nature.

As a result, 73 Twitter handles have been suspended, 4 YouTube videos have been deleted, and a specific Instagram game has been removed.

On Saturday, January 8, Minister of State for Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar announced that the government has discovered and suspended Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook accounts for disseminating “false and inflammatory” information.

“Owners of these accounts are being identified for legal action,” the minister tweeted, adding that these social media networks will be investigated.

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Following Minister Rajiv Chandrashekhar’s complaint, the administration has taken this action. The government had also ordered the shutdown of a huge number of YouTube channels in December of last year. Officials claimed on Friday that the Delhi Police had filed a complaint after discovering a modified video of a cabinet committee meeting in which some people attempted to portray the gathering as anti-Sikh. According to the study, these handles are related to Pakistan, according to sources. Minister Chandrashekhar also filed a complaint after receiving information about it.

According to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, around 20 YouTube channels and two websites have been ordered to be blocked in collaboration with intelligence agencies because they were propagating anti-India propaganda and fake news.

The government issued two directives, the first of which directed YouTube to prohibit 20 channels and the second of which directed YouTube to block two news websites.