This is the first time when PIB has exposed entire YouTube channels against individual posts on social media spreading false claims. Details of the YouTube channels fact-checked by PIB are as under:
| Sl. No. | Name of YouTube Channel | Subscribers | Views |
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News Headlines | 9.67 lakh | 31,75,32,290 |
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Sarkari Update | 22.6 lakh | 8,83,594 |
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आज तक LIVE | 65.6 thousand | 1,25,04,177 |
These YouTube channels spread false and sensational claims about the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Government schemes, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), farm loan waivers, etc. among other fake news. Examples include fake news such as the Supreme Court to have ruled that future elections would be conducted by ballot papers; the Government giving money to people who have bank accounts, Aadhar Cards, and PAN cards; ban on EVMs, etc.
The YouTube channels were observed to be using fake and sensational thumbnails with logos of TV channels and images of their news anchors to mislead the viewers to believe that the news was authentic. These channels were also found to be displaying advertisements on their videos, and monetizing misinformation on YouTube.
Action taken by PIB Fact Check Unit follows the blocking of over one hundred YouTube channels by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in the past one year.