(Image source from: india.com)

The government has banned 59 Chinese apps including Tiktok, We chat; share it, camscanner and UC browser to halt the threat posed by these applications to country’s security and sovereignty.

In a press release on Monday, the government has declared that it is compelled to take this decision amid the rising tensions between the two countries following the clashes at the LAC.

The ban has been imposed under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. The government said that certain data of Indian users on these apps are being illegally transferred abroad. Hence, it has taken the decision in order to protect the integrity, security of state and public order.

The statement from Ministry of Electronics and IT read that it had received various complaints about misusing the mobile apps from China and stealing and transferring data of Indian users in an unscrupulous manner.

“There have been raging concerns on aspects relating to data security and safeguarding the privacy of 130 crore Indians”, read the press release.

Here’s the list of 59 Chinese apps banned by India:

1. Tiktok.                                                                        
2. Share it.                                                   
3. Kwai.
4. UC Browser.
5. Baidu map.
6. Shein.
7. Clash of Kings.
8. Helo.
9. Likee.
10. Virus Cleaner.
11. CM browser.
12. APUS Browser.
13. Club Factory.
14. Beauty Plus.
15. We chat.
16. UC News.
17. Xender.
18. QQ music.
19. Parallel Space.
20. Mail Master.
21. We Sync.
22. Viva Video.
23. DU Cleaner.
24. DU Browser
25. DU Recorder.
26. Camscanner.
27. Clean Master.
28. We Meet.
29. Sweet Selfie.
30. DU Privacy.
31. V Fly Status Video.
32. Vmate.
33. QQ international.
34. QQ Player.
35. QQ Launcher.
36. QQ security
37. Photo wonder.
38. Hago play with friends.
39. ES File explorer.
40. MI Video call.
41. Selfie city.
42. We sync.
43. Xender.
44. Weibo.
45. Mail Master.
46. Newsdog.
47. YouCam Makeup.
48. Meitu.
49. Photo wonder.
50. Baidu Translate.
51. V Fly status video.
52. U Video.
53. Cache cleaner DU app studio.
54. New video status.
55. QQ Mail.
56. Clash of kings.
57. ROMWE.
58. Bigo Live.
59. Vault-Hide.

However, the government clarified that Whatsapp, zoom and PUBG are not banned in India. The perception that Zoom app is of China’s native is wrong. Zoom is from a company founded by Eric Yuan who is a Chinese but has a US citizenship. The company that owns zoom video communications is a US-based one.

A top official has said that they have considered all aspects before taking the decision. The move could also be a decision to alter China’s silk route ambitions by erasing the value of the companies.

After some of the prominent Chinese apps have been removed, people on social media are endorsing native Indian apps as an alternative.

Meanwhile, before the ban, Tiktok had over 120 million users from India. Clubfactory and Shein had over 100 million downloads.

By Gayatri Yellayi