Govt prohibits employees from starting YouTube channels

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has issued an order prohibiting government employees from starting YouTube channels and uploading videos. The Home Department issued the order as it rejected the request made by a fire force employee seeking permission to start a YouTube channel. It has been mentioned in the order that government employees starting YouTube channels is against the law as it is an act of making financial gains on the basis of subscribers. The government will take action against officials who have YouTube channels upon receiving complaints.

As per Kerala Government Servants' Conduct Rules, 1960, government employees should not accept income other than salary. Although posting a video or article on the Internet or social media can be considered an individual act and creative freedom, starting a YouTube channel and uploading videos to it is an income-generating activity.