India bans 59 Chinese apps over national security concerns

June 29, 2020

New Delhi: The Government on Monday banned nearly 59 Chinese apps including UC Browser, TikTok, WeChat, shareit and Xiaomi’s Mi Community citing  national security concerns.

The moves comes in the midst of the ongoing tension between the two countries following death of 20 Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley clash with PLA troops in eastern Ladakh.

Other apps blocked are Kwai, Baidu map, Shein, Clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, CM Browers, Virus Cleaner, APUS Browser, ROMWE, Club Factory, Newsdog, Beutry Plus, WeChat, UC News, QQ Mail, Weibo, Xender, QQ Music, QQ Newsfeed, Bigo Live, SelfieCity, Mail Master  and Parallel Space.

Other apps are Mi Video Call – Xiaomiomi, 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

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) while issuing a ist of the banned 59 Chinese apps said “These measures have been undertaken since there is credible information that these apps are engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.”

The ministry received complaints from various sources including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorised 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 statement read.

This move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace, it said.

–India News Stream