Islamabad court blocks 27 YouTube channels over ‘anti-state' content
A local court in Islamabad has ordered to block 27 channels accused of 'disseminating fake and misleading information against state institutions', it stated in an order on Tuesday.
Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah issued a two-page written order on a petition filed by the the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). The court found the agency's evidence to be satisfactory and ruled that the matter merited legal action under existing laws.
The NCCIA launched an inquiry into the matter on June 2 with the approval of the competent authority.
Sub-Inspector Waseem Khan of the Cyber Crime Reporting Centre of NCCIA's informed the court on June 24 that the agency was investigating several YouTube channels involved in spreading "false, defamatory, and fake" content against state institutions and their officials.
He told the court that the content being circulated was 'likely to cause fear, panic, disorder or unrest in society' and included 'highly intimidating, provocative and derogatory' remarks. He further alleged that the channels aimed to provoke the public and armed forces personnel and create "ill-will among pillars of the state."
The investigation revealed that 27 channels were involved in the public dissemination of such material.
The agency subsequently sought permission to block these YouTube channels under Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, requesting that a legal order be issued to Google LLC, the parent company of YouTube, for their removal and blocking.
After reviewing the request and accompanying evidence, the court concluded that it was convinced the facts presented and the evidence submitted by the inquiry officer constituted "offences punishable" under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and the Penal Laws of Pakistan.
The written order also directed the Officer-in-Charge at YouTube to block/remove the identified channels.
The channels blocked by the court are affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), as well as those run by journalists Moeed Pirzada, Asad Ali Toor, Ahmed Noorani, Matiullah Jan, Imran Riaz Khan, Sabir Shakir, and Aftab Iqbal.
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