India bans 59 Chinese apps including WeChat, TikTok, Helo

UC browser, ShareIT and shopping app Clubfactory are among other prominent apps which have been banned.

The government has banned 59 Chinese applications including big names such as WeChat, TikTok, and Helo and in order to counter the privacy security posed by these applications.

UC browser, ShareIT and shopping app Clubfactory are among the other prominent apps which have been banned. The government has argued that the apps are engaged in activities that are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, defense of India, and public order.

The government has banned these invoking apps and 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, it was said in a statement.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

It can come as a major blow to China’s Digital Silk Route ambitions, eroding millions of dollars from valuation of its companies. This could also lead to more countries following India’s path in acting against these Applications.

WHY APPS ARE BANNED?

A top official said- the government has considered all the aspects before taking 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,” said by the person who was not wishing to be identified.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MEIT) it has received multiple complaints from various sources plus several reports about the misuse of some mobile applications available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers that were having locations outside India.
From the previous few years, India has emerged as a leading innovator when it comes to technological advancements and a primary market in the digital space.

On the same side, there have been huge concerns on aspects concerning data security and safeguarding the privacy of 130 crore Indians. It has been noticed recently that such concerns also pose a threat to the sovereignty and security of our country. The collection of such data, its removal, and profiling by elements antagonistic to national security and defense of India, eventually impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India and it becomes a matter of very deep and instant concern that requires emergency measures.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also sent an exhaustive recommendation for blocking these malicious applications. This Ministry has also received various representations raising concerns from people of India regarding the security of data and risk to privacy relating to the operation of certain apps. The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) has conventional representations from the people of India regarding the security of data and breach of privacy affecting public order issues. Moreover, there have been similar bipartisan concerns, flagged by various public representatives, both outside and inside the Parliament of India. A strong chorus was there in the public space to take strict action against Applications which harm India’s sovereignty as well as the privacy of our citizens.

On the basis of these recent convincing inputs like- Applications create threat to sovereignty and integrity of India, the Government of India has decided to prohibit the usage of certain Applications, used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet enabled devices. 

This decision will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This move is a targeted step to ensure the safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace. Here is the complete list of the apps banned:

Check here the best alternatives for Chinese apps