16 hours ago
Last Updated:May 19, 2025, 11:06 IST
Kiran Choudhry said she will raise the issue in Parliament, adding that there should be a way for the government to stay updated with what some YouTubers are up to
YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra is among those arrested for allegedly spying on India
Young, confident, and now a suspected spy who worked for Pakistan—vlogger Jyoti Malhotra’s arrest has opened a can of worms, suggesting she not only visited the neighbouring country many times but was in touch with Pakistan’s intelligence operatives.
The issue is now set to get bigger, which may not impact only Malhotra but also other influencers, with Haryana MP Kiran Choudhry telling News18 that she will raise the matter in the next session of Parliament.
“There should be a mechanism through which the government can stay updated with what some YouTubers are up to," Choudhry told News18. Malhotra, known by her channel name Travel with Jo, shared videos of her Pakistan visits and visits to the Pakistan Embassy in New Delhi publicly, without raising eyebrows of the authorities till recently.
“What Jyoti did is a clear case of espionage. But it also opens up a bigger debate about the misuse of Artificial Intelligence by some vloggers. They must be taken to task as well. I will raise this matter in Parliament in the next sitting, as and when I get a chance," she added.
Choudhry isn’t alone. BJP’s Delhi MP Praveen Khandelwal has also sought accountability from influencers on social media after Malhotra’s arrest.
The calls assume significance given reports of the Centre mulling introducing a code of conduct for social media influencers, particularly with a huge follower base, after the controversy surrounding India’s Got Latent. The proposed guidelines are expected to be issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. CNBC Awaaz had earlier reported that the new framework may require influencers to assign ratings to their content.
Malhotra, a travel content creator from Hisar, was taken into custody on May 16 and placed under a five-day police remand. Her financial records are also being scrutinised.
Malhotra, 33, runs a travel blog and a YouTube channel titled ‘Travel with JO’, which has over 3.77 lakh subscribers. Her Instagram account also has more than 1.33 lakh followers. She is accused of sharing “sensitive information" with a Pakistani staff member at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, who was expelled from India on May 13 for alleged espionage. According to the police, Malhotra was tasked with promoting a positive image of Pakistan through her social media work.
“It is not about Haryana. She could be from anywhere. What Jyoti is accused of shows her poor upbringing. She is a spy and should be treated as one," BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP from Haryana told News18.
Location :Haryana, India, India
First Published:News politics Haryana BJP MP Wants Influencers ‘Reined In’ After YouTuber’s Arrest For Spying
