YouTube blocks alleged Modi Govt spy documentary on Indian diaspora in Australia
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YouTube has blocked a documentary by ABC TV's Four Corners program titled ‘Infiltrating Australia – India’s Secret War,’ which explores allegations that the Narendra Modi government used Indian intelligence agencies to spy on the Indian diaspora in Australia, following a directive from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The film, which was made available on YouTube on June 17, delves into the experiences of individuals from the Sikh community in Australia. These individuals, who have been involved in the Khalistani separatist movement and are critical of the Modi administration, claim they have been subjected to harassment and threats from Indian authorities. The documentary highlights how these threats allegedly extend to their families back in India.
The decision to block the documentary followed a directive from India’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry, as per the country’s Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules and the Information Technology Act.
YouTube sent a notice to ABC News, informing them of the order and giving the broadcaster the choice to restrict access to the video in India themselves. ABC News chose not to comply, leading to YouTube's decision to enforce the block as of July 27, Australian Eastern Standard Time.
This action marks the second time this year that the Indian government has pressured YouTube to remove ABC’s journalism content. Earlier, a documentary episode titled "Sikhs, Spies and Murder: Investigating India’s Alleged Hit on Foreign Soil," which examined the Modi government's purported involvement in the death of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was also blocked following a similar directive from India.
The blocking of the latest documentary has sparked concerns about the freedom of the press and the ability to report on sensitive political issues. ABC News has expressed its dissatisfaction with the Indian government's efforts to restrict access to its investigative journalism, asserting that such actions will not deter them from pursuing important stories in the public interest.