The social media accounts of a number of Pakistani celebrities had been geo-blocked again on Thursday (July 3, 2025), hours after they grew to become briefly accessible to customers in India — a improvement that had triggered sharp reactions throughout social media platforms.
Some of the beforehand restricted profiles grew to become seen on Wednesday (July 2, 2025), reportedly because of a technical glitch. However, following the problem being dropped at the eye of the authorities, the content material was as soon as again geo-restricted and is not accessible in India.
In the wake of the latest terrorist assault in Pahalgam, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had advisable the blocking of 16 YouTube channels based mostly in Pakistan. These had been accused of disseminating provocative and communally delicate content material, false narratives, and misinformation focusing on India, its armed forces, and safety companies.
The checklist of banned YouTube channels consists of distinguished media retailers akin to Dawn News, ARY News, Samaa TV, Bol News, and Geo News, together with different channels akin to Irshad Bhatti, Raftar, The Pakistan Reference, Samaa Sports, GNN, Uzair Cricket, Umar Cheema Exclusive, Asma Shirazi, Muneeb Farooq, Suno News, and Raazi Naama.
In addition, the social media profiles of Pakistani public figures — together with actors Mahira Khan, Saba Qamar, Ahad Raza Mir, Danish Taimoor, Yumna Zaidi, Fawad Khan, Mawra Hocane, and Hania Aamir — in addition to cricketers akin to Shahid Afridi, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Wasim Akram, Shan Masood, Hasan Ali, Naseem Shah, Imam-ul-Haq, Shadab Khan, and Shoaib Akhtar — stay geo-blocked in India.
Further, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had issued an advisory to over-the-top (OTT) platforms, media streaming providers, and digital intermediaries in India, instructing them to discontinue net collection, movies, songs, podcasts, and different types of media content material originating from Pakistan.
The advisory cited nationwide safety concerns, stating, “Several terrorist attacks in India have been established to have cross-border linkages with Pakistan-based state and non-state actors… On April 22, the terrorist attack in Pahalgam led to the killing of several Indians, one Nepali citizen, and injuries to a number of others…”.
Quoting Part III of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the Ministry underscored the obligations of content material publishers on OTT platforms. It additionally referenced Rule 3(1)(b) of Part II of the IT Rules, 2021, which stipulates that intermediaries should be sure that customers don’t add or share content material that “threatens the unity, integrity, defence, security or sovereignty of India, friendly relations with foreign States, or public order”.
