UP cracks down on YouTubers filming government schools

Uttar Pradesh police have filed multiple FIRs against YouTubers and content creators for entering government schools without permission and filming their facilities. The action follows directives from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on August 22 to take strict legal measures against those spreading misinformation. In Lucknow, an FIR was registered against Amit Yadav and an associate for allegedly filming sanitation and drinking-water facilities at a school on August 20, disrupting an exam.

The complainant, in-charge teacher Vinita Srivastava, alleged the video was circulated to tarnish the school's image. The Lucknow case is part of a wider crackdown across districts including Hathras, Bulandshahr, Deoria, Meerut, Noida, Ghazipur, Siddhartha Nagar and Varanasi. Hindustan Times reports authorities accuse creators of circulating misleading videos, while those named in FIRs claim they are being punished for exposing poor conditions at some government schools.

The Federal reports the crackdown has drawn criticism from opposition figures and commentators. Samajwadi Party spokesperson Sarvesh Tripathi questioned the legal basis for restricting entry into public institutions, arguing the government is afraid of its "real face" being revealed. Commentator Sharad Pradhan called the action a "knee-jerk reaction" and linked it to a wider governance problem. The UP government has allocated Rs 604 crore for school repairs, but critics question why poor conditions persist.