A judicial magistrate in Islamabad has granted the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime Cell permission to block 27 YouTube channels allegedly involved in spreading false, misleading, and defamatory content against state institutions and officials.
The order was issued in response to Enquiry No. RE-717/2025, initiated by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Islamabad, and dated June 2, 2025. The request was filed under Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which empowers authorities to restrict access to online content deemed harmful to public order, national security, or the integrity of the state.
Following the court’s approval, the FIA is now authorized to formally approach Google’s Legal Compliance Department in California to initiate the blocking and removal of the specified YouTube channels.
According to the FIA, the identified channels were found to be disseminating “fake and misleading information” and “derogatory content” that could potentially incite fear, panic, or unrest in society. The agency alleged that the content also violated the privacy and dignity of state officials and attempted to provoke public sentiment against the country’s institutions, including the armed forces.
Prominent journalists and platforms named in the list include Haider Mehdi, Siddique Jaan, Orya Maqbool Jan, Matiullah Jan, Imran Khan, Naya Pakistan, Asad Toor Uncensored, Imran Riaz Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, and Ahmad Noorani, among others. In total, 27 YouTube channels have been identified for blocking.
The court order allows the FIA to formally approach Google’s Legal Compliance Department in California to initiate the process of removal and blocking of the specified channels.
Digital rights advocates have frequently criticized Section 37 of PECA, which gives authorities sweeping powers to block or remove online content, calling it overly broad and prone to misuse against dissent, journalism, and political speech.
No public statement has been issued yet by Google or YouTube regarding the request.
