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Govt to ban 59 Chinese apps including TikTok as border tensions rises

Jun 22,2024
2 min read
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As tensions along the border continue, the Government of India has decided to ban Chinese apps diverting data and those with privacy issues. Government will be announcing a ban on 59 such Chinese apps, including popular apps like Tik Tok, UC browser, CamScanner, etc

A government press release announcing the ban stated: "The Ministry of Information Technology, invoking it’s 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 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".

The press release further said that the Ministry of Information Technology has received "many representations raising concerns from citizens regarding the security of data and risk to privacy relating to the 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," the press release mentioned.

This ban was anticipated as the tension between china & India after the clash at Galwan valley was on high and also, recently Indian intelligence agencies have red-flagged at least 52 mobile apps that they claim pose a national security threat. Following the grave assessment, they’ve asked the government to block these applications or advise people against using them. The apps are all linked to China in one way or another. According to the agencies, the apps, which include the likes of TikTok and Clean Master, are sending a large amount of data to servers outside India

Due to these both factors anti-china sentiment and the privacy issue fueled this ban and the list of banned Chinese apps is same that was red-flagged by Indian intelligence agencies

Here's a list of the apps that have been banned by the government: