India TV, one of India’s leading news broadcasters, confirmed that cybercriminals suspected to be of Russian origin hacked its official YouTube channel. The hackers deleted more than 2 lakh videos from its archives and disrupted its live feed on YouTube.
Over 2 Lakh Videos Deleted and Live Feed Disrupted
The sudden incident has raised serious concerns about the growing number of cyber threats targeting Indian media platforms and institutions. According to a press release shared by the broadcaster, this attack is not only about content loss but also an attack on press freedom and democratic values in the country.
The cyberattack on India TV’s YouTube channel wiped out more than 2 lakh videos, making it one of the biggest losses of digital content in recent times. For years, the channel had built an extensive library of news reports, shows, interviews, and special features. Losing this huge collection is not only a technical setback but also a cultural and informational loss, as the deleted content represented years of hard work and history.
In addition to the mass deletion of videos, the cybercriminals disrupted the channel’s YouTube live feed. The live broadcast on digital platforms is an important part of how news reaches millions of viewers in real time. With the feed down, viewers could not access updates during the critical period when the attack was unfolding.
India TV said its teams are working with YouTube and cybersecurity officials to recover the lost content. They are also working to improve protection against more attacks. The broadcaster added that its other platforms and assets are safe. But restoring the deleted archive will take time and technical help.
Cyberattacks Rising Against Indian Media and Institutions
The attack on India TV’s YouTube channel has come at a time when Indian institutions, media houses, and government-linked digital platforms are facing repeated cyber threats. Experts believe that such attempts are often carried out by groups linked to foreign adversaries.
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In its statement, the broadcaster explained that over the past few years, India has become a frequent target of cybercriminals and enemies of the state. Attacks have been directed not only at media platforms but also at government networks, digital infrastructure, and public institutions. These activities aim to disrupt stability, spread mistrust, and weaken India’s democratic structure.
The release said the hacking is part of a larger pattern by anti-India forces. They try to disturb communication channels. Media platforms like YouTube are easy targets because they hold a large amount of public content. They also play a big role in shaping opinions.
Broadcaster Calls It an Attack on Free Journalism
The management of the broadcaster described the attack as an attempt to silence free journalism. They said hacking a news channel’s digital platform is not only a technical act. It is also a symbolic attempt to interfere with the press. The broadcaster said attackers want to damage the credibility of independent media. They also want to stop it from giving timely news to the public.
The statement strongly condemned the cyberattack, stressing that free journalism is an important pillar of democracy. The broadcaster said hackers designed the YouTube attack to weaken these pillars and limit independent media’s ability to inform the public.
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The crisis teams are in close contact with YouTube’s technical staff and cybersecurity experts. Their main focus is to restore the deleted content. They also want to make sure such a big attack does not happen again. The broadcaster said the recovery work is still going on. It assured viewers that its other digital and television assets are safe and working.
The incident shows how cybercriminals target big platforms that reach millions of people every day. The loss of over 2 lakh videos reminds us how much damage can happen when digital platforms are attacked. The broadcaster said it will keep giving accurate and reliable news to its audience on all platforms, despite the disruption.
