New Delhi: The number of Chinese apps banned in India has gone up to 118. Among those banned is the popular gaming app PUBG. In July the government had banned 59 apps, including another popular app, TikTok.
The government has said that these apps are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of the country. More ‘Chinese origin’ apps had been banned earlier.
“The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India 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 118mobile apps (see Appendix) since in view of information available they are engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order,”
the order from the ministry read.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has received many complaints from various sources, including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations 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 emerge, measures.
In the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India and security of state, and using the sovereign powers, the Government of India has decided to block the usage of certain apps, used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet enabled devices. These apps are listed in the attached appendix. This move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and Internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety, security and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace.
Read the Press Release and Banned Apps
Chinese-App-Banned-India Legal Bureau