The Union Government has issued directions to block public access to 635 URLs, including 120 YouTube-based news channels, since December 2021 for publishing fake news and content not found to be in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of the country, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.Government issued directions to block public access to 635 URLs, including 120 YouTube-based news channels, since December 2021 for publishing fake news and content not found to be in interest of sovereignty and integrity of country: Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag…— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 27, 2023In a written reply to a question in the Parliament, Thakur said that the websites and URLs that had been blocked had published content not found to be in the interest of the 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 the above, including fake news, which ran afoul of the provisions of Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.The Ministry of Broadcasting and Information had issued directions to the authorities to block public access to the concerned URLs and YouTube channels under the provisions of Part-III of IT Rules, 2021, as per Thakur.Avoid advertising betting platforms, IB Ministry tells media: Anurag ThakurAnurag Thakur further informed the Rajya Sabha, in a reply to a separate question, that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had issued three advisories to print, electronic and digital media to refrain from publishing advertisements of online betting platforms or their surrogate products or services.He also clarified that the government will take appropriate actions against any media house that violates the advisory, if and when such a violation is brought to the notice of the I&B Ministry.
