The Crossbill Team
Following a directive from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), YouTube has blocked access in India to a documentary that investigates the alleged role of the Narendra Modi government in targeting the Indian diaspora in Australia through Indian intelligence agencies.
The documentary, titled "Infiltrating Australia – India’s Secret War," is a segment of ABC TV’s renowned series "Four Corners." It features testimonies from individuals in the Indian diaspora in Australia who allege they were targeted by Indian intelligence operatives. Most of the individuals being targeted are members of the Sikh community engaged in the Khalistani separatist movement or critics of the Modi government, news website The Wire reported.
The documentary, which was uploaded to YouTube on June 17, was geo-blocked in India due to an order from India's I&B ministry. YouTube notified ABC News of a "confidential" order from the I&B ministry, which was issued under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules and the Information Technology Act.
ABC was offered the option to restrict the video solely within India, but chose not to do so. Consequently, YouTube imposed a blanket restriction on the video in India, effective as of 11:59 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) on July 27.
Justin Stevens, ABC News' news director, stated that the network "fully backs and stands by this reporting."
Expressing concerns of the blockade Stevens said, "It’s the second time this year the Indian government has issued an instruction to YouTube to remove ABC public interest journalism about its country. Last time it was a Foreign Correspondent report, this time it is a Four Corners program. We’re dismayed at efforts to silence strong journalism. It won’t deter us from continuing to report any and all issues in the public interest."
Earlier in March, YouTube had also blocked an ABC documentary episode titled "Sikhs, Spies and Murder: Investigating India’s alleged hit on foreign soil" which examined the Modi government's alleged role in the death of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The recent documentary, "Infiltrating Australia – India’s Secret War," highlights Sikh Australians who allege that Indian authorities have threatened their families in India as a result of their activism overseas.
The documentary, titled "Infiltrating Australia – India’s Secret War," is a segment of ABC TV’s renowned series "Four Corners." It features testimonies from individuals in the Indian diaspora in Australia who allege they were targeted by Indian intelligence operatives. Most of the individuals being targeted are members of the Sikh community engaged in the Khalistani separatist movement or critics of the Modi government, news website The Wire reported.
The documentary, which was uploaded to YouTube on June 17, was geo-blocked in India due to an order from India's I&B ministry. YouTube notified ABC News of a "confidential" order from the I&B ministry, which was issued under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules and the Information Technology Act.
ABC was offered the option to restrict the video solely within India, but chose not to do so. Consequently, YouTube imposed a blanket restriction on the video in India, effective as of 11:59 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) on July 27.
Justin Stevens, ABC News' news director, stated that the network "fully backs and stands by this reporting."
Expressing concerns of the blockade Stevens said, "It’s the second time this year the Indian government has issued an instruction to YouTube to remove ABC public interest journalism about its country. Last time it was a Foreign Correspondent report, this time it is a Four Corners program. We’re dismayed at efforts to silence strong journalism. It won’t deter us from continuing to report any and all issues in the public interest."
Earlier in March, YouTube had also blocked an ABC documentary episode titled "Sikhs, Spies and Murder: Investigating India’s alleged hit on foreign soil" which examined the Modi government's alleged role in the death of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The recent documentary, "Infiltrating Australia – India’s Secret War," highlights Sikh Australians who allege that Indian authorities have threatened their families in India as a result of their activism overseas.
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