The Indian government has banned 59 Chinese apps in India over “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order” concerns. TikTok has the largest number of users in India and after the ban, TikTok has now been removed from the Google Play Store. In India, the app has 611 million downloads which is approximately 30 percent of the total downloads as per a report.
On Tuesday the Central Government passed an order banning 59 Chinese liked apps in the country. The government has banned these apps on its concerns over India’s sovereignty, integrity, security and public order. In its statement the government said, “ The Ministry of Information Technology, invoking its power under section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 and in view of the emergent nature of threats has decided to block 59 apps ( see Appendix) since in view of the information available they are engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order.”
Stating that these apps have been violating the privacy of the users and even sharing the data with the Chinese government. In view of this, the government has asked both Apple as well as Google to remove all the 59 apps from their respective Apps Store and Play Store and have asked ISPs and telecom companies to support them carrying out the ban.
While banning these Chinese apps the Government in its explanation said, “The Ministry of Information Technology has received many complaints from various sources including several reports about the misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India. The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre has also sent an exhaustive recommendation for blocking these malicious apps. According to the Indian government, this department of the Ministry of Home Affairs has received representations raising concerns from citizens regarding the security of data and risk to privacy relating to operation of certain apps. The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) has also received many representations from citizens regarding the security of data and breach of privacy impacting upon public order issues.
On the basis of these complaints, the Government of India has decided to disallow the usage of certain Apps, used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet-enabled devices. The Government also ensures that this move has been taken in order to safeguard the interests of the citizens of the country who have been using these apps and unknowingly their data is being shared outside the country hence raising grave concerns over their privacy as well as security. We have listed down the 59 apps which have been banned in the country:
- TikTok
- Shareit
- Kwai
- UC Browser
- Baidu map
- Shein
- Clash of Kings
- DU battery saver
- Helo
- Likee
- YouCam makeup
- Mi Community
- CM Browers
- Virus Cleaner
- APUS Browser
- ROMWE
- Club Factory
- Newsdog
- Beutry Plus
- UC News
- QQ Mail
- Xender
- QQ Music
- QQ Newsfeed
- Bigo Live
- SelfieCity
- Mail Master
- Parallel Space
- Mi Video Call – Xiaomi
- WeSync
- ES File Explorer
- Viva Video – QU Video Inc
- Meitu
- Vigo Video
- New Video Status
- DU Recorder
- Vault- Hide
- Cache Cleaner DU App studio
- DU Cleaner
- DU Browser
- Hago Play With New Friends
- Cam Scanner
- Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile
- Wonder Camera
- Photo Wonder
- QQ Player
- We Meet
- Sweet Selfie
- Baidu Translate
- Vmate
- QQ International
- QQ Security Center
- QQ Launcher
- U Video
- V fly Status Video
- Mobile Legends
- DU Privacy
Also, this is not the first time when the government has banned these Chinese apps. TikTok has been banned so many times however still it was brought back on both Android as well as iOS platforms. over its growing popularity in the country. But this time the Government seems to be quite serious over its deadly brawl and ongoing mounting tensions between India and China.
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