The Central Government has informed the Delhi High Court that the YouTube channel of digital news platform 4PM has been blocked for allegedly spreading conspiracy theories regarding the Pahalgam terror attack.
According to the government affidavit, the channel propagated claims suggesting involvement of Indian authorities in the incident and functioned as part of a digital lobbying effort aimed at influencing India’s sovereign decision-making in favour of foreign actors.
In the affidavit submitted before the court, the government stated that 4PM cast doubts on the authenticity of India’s military response to Pahalgam attack, amplified Pakistani narratives, and incited communal sentiments, particularly in sensitive regions such as Kashmir and Manipur.
The Centre alleges that the channel does not just host isolated controversial videos, but follows a “pattern” across all subjects and formats, its armed forces, and its foreign policy across subjects and formats.
The affidavit also contended that videos on the channel attributed serious allegations to the Union of India, including compromising strategic autonomy, acting under foreign influence in military matters, having prior knowledge of developments in West Asia, and allowing foreign policy decisions to be shaped by communal considerations.
The response was filed after 4PM and its editor-in-chief, Sanjay Sharma, approached the High Court challenging the blocking of the YouTube channel.
The petitioners claimed that the channel, which had over 8.4 million subscribers and had consistently ranked among the top platforms for three years, was blocked along with 26 of its videos in March 2026 following a legal request by the government. They further alleged that neither Google nor the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), furnished them with a formal order or justification.
Meanwhile, the government has characterised 4PM as an instance of “digital lobbying” used to carry out influence operations. According to the government, while foreign actors previously used “conventional mechanisms” like print media, newspapers, and magazines to influence sovereign decisions, that function has now shifted to social media and online content channels to shape the people’s discourse.
The government argued that 4PM’s content reflects the features of a “digital echo chamber,” where selective and repetitive narratives are amplified to influence public opinion. It asserted that such activities constitute digital lobbying through repetition, amplification, and monetisation, posing a direct and potentially irreversible impact on the integrity of India’s sovereign decision-making processes.
Additionally, the government pointed out that 4PM had not disclosed revenue generated through monetisation and suggested that examination of financial records would support its claims.
Finally, it emphasised that it derives authority under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology Rules to block online content, including entire channels and accounts. Referring to Section 69A of the Act, the government contended that its powers must be interpreted broadly, as the provision is intended to effectively regulate access to unlawful information in the digital domain, extending beyond individual content to entire digital resources.
The matter will be heard next on Wednesday by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav.
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