In one of the most severe digital breaches faced by an Indian media house in recent memory, the official YouTube channel of India TV, was hacked by unidentified cybercriminals suspected to be operating from Russia. The attackers deleted more than 200,000 archived videos, disrupting the platform’s live news feed and raising urgent concerns about the vulnerability of Indian media organizations to foreign cyber interference.
The attack came at a delicate moment for India’s digital ecosystem. With rising geopolitical tensions and an expanding online presence of media and public institutions, the frequency and scale of cyber intrusions targeting Indian assets have been growing. Experts say the incident underscores the broader challenge of safeguarding national institutions against increasingly sophisticated international actors.
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Media Under Siege in a Digital Age
The hacking of India TV’s channel is not an isolated case. In recent years, Indian newsrooms have faced waves of cyberattacks that range from defacement of websites to large-scale data theft. What makes this incident especially alarming is the scale of archival destruction: two lakh videos, spanning years of reporting, features, and live programs, were wiped out within hours.
Industry analysts describe such acts as part of a larger pattern, where hostile entities attempt to destabilize democratic institutions by undermining public trust in media. “This was not just an attack on one broadcaster,” said a senior digital security consultant. “It reflects a targeted attempt to erode the credibility of journalism, which remains central to democratic discourse.”
Response and Restoration Efforts
Ms. Ritu Dhawan, Managing Director and CEO of India TV, condemned the breach in strong terms and stated that their YouTube channel has recently faced a major cyber-attack. This is not an attack on our channel, but an attempt to weaken the important pillars of free and independent journalism. Dhawan confirmed that technical teams are coordinating with YouTube and cybersecurity authorities to recover the deleted content and prevent further breaches.
While investigations continue, cybersecurity experts warn that restoring the full archive could prove difficult. The incident adds to growing evidence that Indian media, like critical government and corporate institutions, remain a high-value target for global cybercriminal networks. For viewers, the immediate consequence is a disrupted archive. For the industry, it is a stark reminder of how fragile digital assets have become in an era where information itself is a weapon.