government bans Chinese apps – government bans 118 apps
New Delhi: The Government of India on Wednesday blocked 118 more mobile applications, including PUBG, in the interest of “sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, security of the state and public order” by implementing Section 69 of the Information Technology Act.
According to an official statement, the banned apps include Baidu, Baidu Express Edition, Tencent Watchlist, FaceU, WeChat Reading, Ludo All Star, Alipay and Tencent Weyun, besides PUBG Mobile and PUBG Mobile Lite.
“The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India has implemented the relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act (Procedure and safeguards for blocking access to information by the public) Rules, 2009 and see The emerging nature of threats has decided to block 118 mobile applications as they are engaged in activities that are prejudicial to India’s sovereignty and integrity, defense of India, security of the state and public order, in view of the available information. “Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said in an official release.
The ministry said it had received several complaints from various sources, including about the misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms to “unauthorizedly steal and secure users’ data for servers located outside India For “.
“The compilation of these data, mining by hostile elements for India’s national security and defense and its framework, which ultimately imposes on India’s sovereignty and integrity, is a matter of deep and urgent concern that needs emergency measures. Crime Coordination The Center, Ministry of Home Affairs has also sent a complete recommendation to block these malicious apps. Similarly, there are similar concerns of flagging by various public representatives both outside and inside the Parliament of India. India’s sovereignty as well as ours Chorus in a public place to take strict action against apps that harm citizens’ privacy.
“Based on these and recently obtaining reliable information, the information posted, permissions sought, the functionality as well as the data harvesting practices of the above mentioned apps create serious concerns that these apps are serpotitiously Collect and share data and compromise personal data The information of users that can be a serious threat to the security of the state.
“In the interest of India’s sovereignty and integrity, the defense of India and the security of the state. And using the sovereign powers, the Government of India decided to block the use of certain apps used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet.” Has taken. Instruments. These apps are listed in the attached appendix, “the ministry said.
This step will protect the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. The decision is a targeted step to ensure the safety, security and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace, the ministry further said.
The Indian government’s latest move comes at a time when China allegedly attempted an incursion near the southern coast of Pangong Tso, which was thwarted by the Indian Army.
In June this year, India banned 59 apps with Chinese links, including Tiktok, UC Browser, Weibo, Baidu Map and Baidu Translation, stating that they were prejudicial to the country’s sovereignty, integrity and security Were.
Here is a complete list of 118 mobile apps, which are banned today: