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Court Orders Blocking of 27 YouTube Channels Over ‘Anti-State’ Content
Islamabad court orders YouTube to block 27 well-known channels over FIA inquiry into alleged anti-state content. Court found FIA's evidence sufficient for legal action.
ND
by News Desk
2025-07-08
Court Orders Blocking of 27 YouTube Channels Over ‘Anti-State’ Content

A local court in Islamabad on Tuesday ordered the blocking of 27 well-known YouTube channels, following a request by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) over allegations of spreading anti-state content.

Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah presided over the hearing, during which FIA representatives and concerned authorities presented their case and evidence in court. The FIA had initiated an inquiry into the matter on June 2.

After reviewing the material submitted, the court expressed satisfaction with the FIA’s findings and permitted action to be taken under the law. The court specifically directed YouTube’s officer-in-charge to block access to the 27 channels in question.

In its written order, the court stated that the FIA’s evidence justifies a response within the framework of existing laws and rules, emphasizing that the content from these channels posed potential threats to public order and state integrity.

Though the names of the channels have not been officially disclosed, the development has raised renewed concerns around digital censorship, freedom of expression, and the balance between national security and civil liberties in Pakistan.

Over the past few years, Pakistani authorities have intensified scrutiny of social media platforms, particularly in relation to content deemed critical of the military or government institutions. This latest move appears to be part of broader efforts to curb online narratives considered subversive or harmful to state interests.

Background
The FIA has increasingly invoked cybercrime and anti-terrorism laws to monitor online spaces, often acting upon complaints involving misinformation, hate speech, or anti-state propaganda. Human rights organizations, however, have repeatedly warned against the misuse of such laws to stifle dissent and silence critics.

The government has yet to issue a statement clarifying the criteria used to determine the "anti-state" nature of the flagged content or whether the channel owners have been given an opportunity to defend themselves.

Further legal proceedings or appeals from content creators are expected in the coming days.

 
Tagged:

FIA

DigitalCensorship

FreedomOfSpeech

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