Indian government orders blocking of apps, websites, social media accounts linked to Sikhs For Justice

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Tuesday ordered the blocking of apps, websites,s and social media accounts linked to the banned organization, Sikhs For Justice (SJF).

In a statement, the Ministry said it has ordered the blocking of apps, websites, and social media accounts of foreign-based ‘Punjab Politics TV’ having close links with the SJF, deemed unlawful under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

“Relying on intelligence inputs that the channel was attempting to use online media to disturb public order during the ongoing State Assembly Elections, the Ministry used emergency powers under the IT Rules on February 18 to block the digital media resources of Punjab Politics TV,” it said.

The government is “vigilant and dedicated to secure India’s overall information environment and thwart any measures that threaten India’s sovereignty and integrity,” according to the statement.

After obtaining intelligence inputs, the I&B Ministry began implementing the emergency powers granted under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, in December 2021, when it shut 20 YouTube channels and two websites. On January 21, the ministry issued a second series of orders suspending 35 more YouTube channels, this time based on intelligence inputs, which it said had over 100 crore views and were all based in Pakistan and involved in disseminating “anti-India fake news.”

In January, it also issued orders to restrict two websites, two Twitter accounts, two Instagram accounts, and one Facebook account.

Following the January orders, I&B Secretary Apurva Chandra stated that the ministry had responded quickly after obtaining intelligence agency inputs. He did say, however, that not all YouTube channels or social media accounts warned by the agencies were blocked, and that the content of those channels and accounts had been reviewed by the ministry. Furthermore, ministry officials stated that the directives would be presented to the inter-departmental committee, which is responsible for approving such instructions unless emergency powers are employed.

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