Three more Bangladeshi television channels, Somoy TV, DBC News and, ATN News, have had their YouTube broadcasts blocked in India, bringing the total number of Bangladeshi TV YouTube channels banned in the neighbouring country to seven.
The action was taken by YouTube at the request of the Indian government, which cited national security concerns for the blocking.
According to Dismislab, a fact-checking initiative by the research organization Digitally Right, the blocking of Somoy TV and DBC News’s YouTube channels in India was reported today (Saturday). Dismislab had previously reported on Friday the blocking of YouTube channels belonging to Jamuna TV, Ekattor TV, Banglavision, and Mohona TV in India. Meanwhile, Somoy TV has confirmed the blocking of ATN News's YouTube channel in India.
Attempts to access these YouTube channels from Indian geo-locations display a message stating, ‘This content is not available in this country due to a government order related to national security or public order.’
Earlier, Jamuna TV confirmed to Dismislab that it had received an official notification from YouTube regarding the block.
YouTube operates in India under the ‘Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules.’ Under these regulations, the Indian government can instruct the blocking of any content or channel it deems a threat to national security, sovereignty, or public order.
In response to the blockade, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor of the Ministry of Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology, commented on Friday in a Facebook post that the blocking of Bangladeshi YouTube channels is ‘against international consumer rights practices.’
He wrote, ‘YouTube India has geo-blocked at least four Bangladeshi TV stations. By blocking Bangladesh as a geographical location for broadcast mediums, the rights of Bangladeshi citizens residing in India who regularly watch these channels are being infringed upon. Such an action appears to be against international consumer rights practices.’
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb further added, ‘We will seek an explanation from YouTube. If a clear explanation is not provided, we will be compelled to take retaliatory measures.’
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