🚨BBC Investigation🚨
We discovered a BIG, YouTube-based network spreading disinformation in India. The influencers - who were making money doing this - were fearless and had visible links with a political party.
What happened next?
Thread🧶
We discovered a BIG, YouTube-based network spreading disinformation in India. The influencers - who were making money doing this - were fearless and had visible links with a political party.
What happened next?
Thread🧶
Disinformation can have disastrous consequences. Indian govt gets that. Which is why in the last two months, nearly 55 YouTube channels + several other SM accounts have been blocked.
Our work bore fruit around the same time that GOI announced its actions.
Our work bore fruit around the same time that GOI announced its actions.
Let’s start from the start.
It was in late October that a mere YouTube search with terms like ‘Aryan Khan’, ‘NCB’ etc began showing us radical results.
Graph represents the volume of the overall content. Obviously, not all was disinfo.
It was in late October that a mere YouTube search with terms like ‘Aryan Khan’, ‘NCB’ etc began showing us radical results.
Graph represents the volume of the overall content. Obviously, not all was disinfo.
Now, remember that top right corner on your YouTube page?
From there we were being recommended channel after channel – SEVERAL VERIFIED BY YOUTUBE – which were fanning the flames. Their videos, often monologues or in the form of interviews with ‘experts’ lasted for hours.
From there we were being recommended channel after channel – SEVERAL VERIFIED BY YOUTUBE – which were fanning the flames. Their videos, often monologues or in the form of interviews with ‘experts’ lasted for hours.
But that’s natural, no?
What wasn’t was this – their content was based on pure lies and baseless conspiracies.
What wasn’t was this – their content was based on pure lies and baseless conspiracies.
Reason such unmasking matters is – these influencers were raking in big bucks, including from ordinary people. Masquerading such content as 'truth', by saying that they have ‘proof’ etc they sought money.
And we saw people paying. Yep.
And we saw people paying. Yep.
On its part, YouTube has enabled monetisation tools like super chats, exclusive memberships, allegedly splitting ad revenue – all of it for people engaged in disinformation, abuse and ruining of reputations.
So what did we find? Well, it wasn't about Aryan Khan alone (though there was lots of it on him as well).
To begin with, this video will give you an idea.
To begin with, this video will give you an idea.
Specifics now.
An influencer (left) featured who he claimed was a medical whistleblower working at AIIMS. The woman claimed to have seen corrupt practices in a probe that dealt with Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.
Video’s title? ‘BIGGEST PROOF’ of how AIIMS had 'botched up'.
An influencer (left) featured who he claimed was a medical whistleblower working at AIIMS. The woman claimed to have seen corrupt practices in a probe that dealt with Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.
Video’s title? ‘BIGGEST PROOF’ of how AIIMS had 'botched up'.
Next stop AIIMS.
The spokesperson officially told a persistent @MedhaviArora that the woman had NOT worked in the relevant department, to begin with. And that it was a fake video.
It was watched over 16,000 times..remains on site.
The spokesperson officially told a persistent @MedhaviArora that the woman had NOT worked in the relevant department, to begin with. And that it was a fake video.
It was watched over 16,000 times..remains on site.
Small point – in an interview he gave us, Sandeep Verma, influencer, insisted that the woman was a member of the probe team. He said he had verified her credentials.
When we asked for evidence he got upset, threatened action if we aired the clip. We aired it.
Was important.
When we asked for evidence he got upset, threatened action if we aired the clip. We aired it.
Was important.
Our team heard allegations of actors being involved in drugs, child prostitution, organ harvesting, anti-India and anti-Hindu activities – all unsubstantiated.
Yet presented as truth or a product of their ‘journalism’.
Yet presented as truth or a product of their ‘journalism’.
Acting like a network, we found these influencers starring in each other’s videos. They also had a common pool of so-called experts.
Pics👇
Pics👇
Remember I said these folks had ‘visible links with a political party’?
AFTER we came across these influencers and their content – which was heavily targeting Bollywood – we found some of their other works.
AFTER we came across these influencers and their content – which was heavily targeting Bollywood – we found some of their other works.
In a UP govt video, an ‘Elvish Yadav’ was invited to a virtual meet with UP CM Yogi Adityanath. He even asked the CM a question.
We came across a video by the same influencer where actors were abused and sexist remarks passed.
Video remains on YouTube.
We came across a video by the same influencer where actors were abused and sexist remarks passed.
Video remains on YouTube.
CONTEXT: Above meet was ‘Social Media Samvaad’ where the CM was virtually addressing ‘team of important influencers which presented his government’s viewpoint strongly’.
CM said, “There are many things that the government cannot say directly but you do”.
CM said, “There are many things that the government cannot say directly but you do”.
BJP’s @Shehzad_Ind & Shweta Shalini featured with this influencer.
On checking, Shweta told @MedhaviArora that this interaction had nothing to do with the party.
Poonawala did not respond.
On checking, Shweta told @MedhaviArora that this interaction had nothing to do with the party.
Poonawala did not respond.
Must point out – we also noted how some of these influencers used hate speech for the BJP’s opponents.
We reached out to ALL the influencers and repeatedly, for months. We wanted to question them, seek their sources, if any.
Most did not respond.
Afterwards, some influencers misled their audience by claiming the BBC never asked them.
Totally false❌
Most did not respond.
Afterwards, some influencers misled their audience by claiming the BBC never asked them.
Totally false❌
Two influencers, Sandeep Verma and Sandeep Phogat did come forward to answer our questions.
“I keep my location on guard, people like me need to be careful. How about we rent a room in a hotel?” Verma said on WhatsApp.
Asked if he was making sensational and baseless videos for the money. He denied.
“I don’t hate Bollywood but I want cleansing”.
Asked if he was making sensational and baseless videos for the money. He denied.
“I don’t hate Bollywood but I want cleansing”.
Phogat runs a verified YouTube channel and calls himself the ‘voice of normal people’.
When questioned about the baseless claims made in his videos, his response:
When you do 2-hour-long videos may be there are somethings you miss.
When questioned about the baseless claims made in his videos, his response:
When you do 2-hour-long videos may be there are somethings you miss.
BOTH, upon asking whether they feared YouTube acting against them for the kind of content told us - THEY DID NOT.
And finally - what did YouTube do?
Worth pointing out that not only did we provide an exhaustive list of such influencers. We also asked the firm why peddlers of SUCH content were being provided features to monetise.
Why were influencers getting verified badges?
Worth pointing out that not only did we provide an exhaustive list of such influencers. We also asked the firm why peddlers of SUCH content were being provided features to monetise.
Why were influencers getting verified badges?
Excerpts from what a YouTube Spokesperson shared.👇
Must state - we asked YouTube twice, waited for their comments but they did not give us a specific response.
All these influencers continue their work.
All these influencers continue their work.
How does all this impact the film industry?
Does it even?
Does it even?
Former journalist @shreemiverma:
Don’t want to sound alarmist, but it is very scary. Today, before the release of any show, production houses are deliberating on about what could be offensive, where there could be trouble and how to get around etc. Not how it should be.
Conti.
Don’t want to sound alarmist, but it is very scary. Today, before the release of any show, production houses are deliberating on about what could be offensive, where there could be trouble and how to get around etc. Not how it should be.
Conti.
Shreemi: Some people think they’re safe because they’re doing certain movies. But history shows that nobody is safe. Bollywood needs to find unity..do something…talk to the lawmakers, gets laws amended.
This is not freedom of speech. You’re trying to curb fake news.
This is not freedom of speech. You’re trying to curb fake news.
We also met @ReallySwara. She drew a direct line between such harmful disinformation and its impact on livelihoods.
"There is an impression in people’s minds about me and this has been formed more by noise around me than by my own actions.
I don’t get work as much. Ppl in industry get worried that if Swara came in there might be a controversy.
Brands are very afraid of me."
@ReallySwara
I don’t get work as much. Ppl in industry get worried that if Swara came in there might be a controversy.
Brands are very afraid of me."
@ReallySwara
We also spoke to the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Asso (IMPPA). This is hurting even the workers in the industry.
On Jan 21, Secy @MIB_India Apurva Chandra asked everyone ‘tell us channels that are toxic’ and promised action.
He also said, “People like YouTube should also take this into account that these are toxic, fake news..and within their systems also these should get flagged".
He also said, “People like YouTube should also take this into account that these are toxic, fake news..and within their systems also these should get flagged".
Before publishing, we shared our basic findings with @MIB_India & @GoI_MeitY.
Asked them if they would like to address this issue..even offered them more insights into our investigation – on request.
They have chosen to not respond.
Will update if they do.
Asked them if they would like to address this issue..even offered them more insights into our investigation – on request.
They have chosen to not respond.
Will update if they do.
For those interested, our @BBCHindi docu, shot and edited by the very talented @_serajali_ is available here:
Shorter version in Hindi:👇🏽
https://twitter.com/BBCHindi/status/1488527781558374408
The detailed text of our investigation is now available in multiple Indian languages 👇
@bbcnewsmarathi : bbc.com/marathi/india-…
@bbcnewsgujarati : bbc.com/gujarati/india…
@bbctamil : bbc.com/tamil/india-60…
@bbcnewstelugu: bbc.com/telugu/india-6…
@bbcnewsmarathi : bbc.com/marathi/india-…
@bbcnewsgujarati : bbc.com/gujarati/india…
@bbctamil : bbc.com/tamil/india-60…
@bbcnewstelugu: bbc.com/telugu/india-6…
Prefer audio📻? Find our investigation inside this @BBCHindi digital audio bulletin, 23rd minute onwards. @FaisalMohdAli
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