Indian government bans 59 Chinese applications: Will this move boost the usage of Indian apps?
The Indian government banned 59 Chinese mobile applications, including topmost social media platforms such as TikTok, Helo, and WeChat, to combat the threat posed by these apps to the country’s “sovereignty and security,” it stated in a press statement late on Monday.
UC browser, ShareIT, and shopping app Clubfactory are amongst the other leading apps that have been banned among soaring tensions between India and China following disputes at the border two weeks before.
The government announced the applications are involved in activities “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.” The ban has been imposed under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009, it announced.
The government also mentioned accusations about data from Indian users being transferred overseas without permission. The movement could begin as a blow to China’s Digital Silk Route aims, eroding the valuation of the companies. It could also commence to more nations following India’s lead and fighting against these apps, sources told ET.
A top official stated the government had analyzed all aspects before making the decision. “These apps have been there for a long time, and there are some privacy and security issues with them including risks of data going out of the country,” stated the person.
The declaration from the Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) announced it had received complaints from numerous sources, including many reports about the abuse of some mobile apps for cheating and secretly sending users’ data to illegal servers outside India.
“The compilation of the 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,” it stated. “There have been raging concerns on aspects relating to data security and safeguarding the privacy of 130 crore Indians. It has been noted recently that such concerns also pose a threat to sovereignty and security of our country.”
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, part of the Ministry of Home Affairs, has bestowed an “exhaustive recommendation for blocking the malicious apps,” the press announcement said.
InMobi, the ad tech company that owns Roposo, a video app that is a rival of TikTok, announced the move would clear up the market for its platform while ShareChat, the Indian social network, greeted the government’s move.
Bolo Indya, an opponent to TikTok, declares it will profit from the ban on its larger opponent. “We welcome the decision as we resonate the concerns raised by the government. This is the opportunity for Bolo Indya and other Indian apps to deliver value, keeping Indian culture and data security at the highest priority,” stated its co-founder and CEO Varun Saxena.
Here's the entire list of the apps banned in India:
1. TikTok
2. Shareit
3. Kwai
4. UC Browser
5. Baidu map
6. Shein
7. Clash of Kings
8. DU battery saver
9. Helo
10. Likee
11. YouCam makeup
12. Mi Community
13. CM Browers
14. Virus Cleaner
15. APUS Browser
16. ROMWE
17. Club Factory
18. Newsdog
19. Beutry Plus
20. WeChat
21. UC News
22. QQ Mail
23. Weibo
24. Xender
25. QQ Music
26. QQ Newsfeed
27. Bigo Live
28. SelfieCity
29. Mail Master
30. Parallel Space
31. Mi Video Call – Xiaomi
32. WeSync
33. ES File Explorer
34. Viva Video – QU Video Inc
35. Meitu
36. Vigo Video
37. New Video Status
38. DU Recorder
39. Vault-Hide
40. Cache Cleaner DU App studio
41. DU Cleaner
42. DU Browser
43. Hago Play With New Friends
44. Cam Scanner
45. Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile
46. Wonder Camera
47. Photo Wonder
48. QQ Player
49. We Meet
50. Sweet Selfie
51. Baidu Translate
52. Vmate
53. QQ International
54. QQ Security Center
55. QQ Launcher
56. U Video
57. V fly Status Video
58. Mobile Legends
59. DU Privacy
