The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (“MIB”) reportedly directed the online video-sharing platform, YouTube to remove 45 videos from 10 channels hosted on its website on September 23, 2022 under the provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (“IT Rules, 2021”). The impugned videos have been viewed over 1.30 crore times cumulatively and were reportedly found to have the potential to disrupt public order in the country1. However, this is not the only case in the recent past wherein the State has ordered certain publishers to take down content on the grounds of public order. On August 16, 2022, the MIB, by way of certain powers granted to it under the IT Rules, 2021, ordered eight news channels that were hosted on YouTube to be blocked, citing the “sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the…
