ISLAMABAD: A local court in the capital has ordered the blocking of 27 YouTube channels for allegedly promoting content deemed harmful to the state.
The decision came on Tuesday after Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah issued a two-page ruling in response to a request filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
“The YouTube charge officer is directed to block 27 YouTube channels,” the magistrate stated in his order.
The judge added that the court was convinced by the evidence presented by the FIA, which launched its inquiry on June 2 and submitted material that the court found sufficient to prove the presence of anti-state content.
The ruling also emphasized that the FIA has the legal authority to take necessary action against such platforms.
In recent months, several YouTube channels have already come under pressure in the country, with many becoming inaccessible to users in Pakistan.
Some content creators have reportedly left the country and are now operating their channels from abroad.
Despite the court’s order, digital experts point out that channels cannot be completely blocked unless YouTube’s parent company is officially contacted to take such action.
It is worth noting that YouTube continues to serve as a vital source of learning and entertainment for millions, offering users a wide range of content from across the globe.