New Delhi: The Union government has informed the Delhi High Court that the YouTube channel 4PM News was blocked in March for allegedly peddling “anti-India sentiments” and making claims that Indian authorities were involved in the Pahalgam terror attack.
In an affidavit filed before the court, the Centre further alleged that the channel’s content amounted to “digital lobbying” aimed at aiding foreign actors seeking to influence India’s sovereign decision-making.
The government had ordered the blocking of the channel on March 12, citing concerns related to national security and public order.
The channel and its editor, Sanjay Sharma, challenged the move before the High Court, contending that neither Google, which owns YouTube, nor the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had provided a formal blocking order or detailed reasons for the action.
Responding to the plea, the ministry told the court that the channel exhibited a “sustained pattern” of publishing content that was speculative, one-sided, malicious and unsubstantiated.
“It is submitted that the videos hosted on the blocked channel attributed grave acts to the Union of India, such as compromising India’s strategic autonomy, having prior awareness of military action in West Asia and endangering Indians abroad,” the affidavit stated.
The Centre further alleged that the channel disseminated “per-se false, inciting and destabilising information” on sensitive issues, including terrorism, internal security in the border state of Jammu and Kashmir, and the situation in Manipur.
According to the affidavit, the platform had also questioned the authenticity of India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack and presented defence-related data and schemes through “fabricated narratives” that could undermine public confidence in the armed forces.
The terror attack at Baisaran near Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, had left 26 persons dead and 17 injured. Police said the attackers targeted tourists after asking their names to identify their religion, with all but three of those killed being Hindu.
The ministry maintained that the content published by 4PM News was prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence and national security, as well as friendly relations with foreign states—grounds that fall within the scope of Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
Under Section 69A, an authorised government official of at least joint secretary rank can direct social media platforms to block content deemed a threat to national security, sovereignty or public order.
“It is submitted that the manner in which the petitioner’s channel operates clearly reflects the hallmark of a ‘digital echo chamber’, where selected and repetitive content is circulated to promote a single narrative to influence public opinion,” the affidavit added.
Following the blocking of the channel, Sharma told The Wire that the government had repeatedly targeted the platform due to its critical coverage.
The Union government had earlier blocked the YouTube channel in April 2025 as well, citing similar concerns related to national security and public order.