KATHMANDU, Oct 7: Press Council Nepal (PCN) has written to the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police to investigate and take action against 43 YouTube channels accused of spreading misleading and inappropriate content.
The channels in question face legal action for transmitting one-sided, rumor-driven, exaggerated, and obscene material. The council has committed to pursue further action if these channels continue to broadcast incorrect content without proper media registration.
A meeting of the code of conduct monitoring sub-committee of the PCN led by chairman of the PCN Balkrishna Basnet decided to take action against various media, including news media based on social media. In a press release issued on Monday, the council noted that since July, they have intensified efforts to combat news stories promoting violence, terror, and misinformation. The council has established a documentation procedure and is conducting regular monitoring and enforcement of media outlets that produce such stories.
Press Council takes actions against 31 erring YouTubers
Information Officer of the council Ram Sharan Bohara informed Republica that the council has taken action against various online media portals. The council has blacklisted three online media outlets—abpcrimenews.com, tvannapurna.com, and setokhari.com—for failing to comply with the code of conduct since July. These blacklisted outlets will no longer receive any state-level benefits.
In the current fiscal year, the council has registered 76 complaints and taken action on 269 news materials through self-monitoring. The council aims to promote organized and reputable journalism among YouTube channels, responding to a rise in complaints regarding content transmitted on these platforms.
Likewise, the council has instructed five online media outlets to remove content that violates the Code of Media Ethics and has instructed five other outlets to eliminate controversial materials. Additionally, they have warned four unregistered web portals and social networks to remove objectionable content or face legal consequences.
The council has also corresponded with the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, requesting that web portals transmitting improperly managed content be restricted from operating in Nepal. Furthermore, the council has intensified monitoring of several websites, including Onlinepana.com, Diyopost.com, and Swasthyalive.com, which are broadcasting controversial news. Detailed information on all media outlets involved in various actions is available on the council’s website.
