(Image source from: techcrunch.com)

The government of India had banned 59 Chinese apps in the country including TikTok for security reasons on Monday. Nikhil Gandhi who is the head of TikTok India has said that the company will meet the government authorities to discuss the issue and submit clarifications.

The clash between India and China has already gone global, with countries like Japan and United States of America supporting India in this manner. All of this began on June 15th when the Chinese PLA troops did not keep their word of de-escalation on the Galwan Valley Line of Action Control in Ladakh and attacked the Indian soldiers. In this violent attack 20 Indian soldiers were martyred. People of India could not take this and started a movement called Boycott China and Boycott Made in China products. Indians in the country and around the world took this seriously by taking small initiatives. Government had also cancelled all the projects given by the Indian Government to Chinese firms. Apart from all this the government of India took a big step on Monday by banning 59 China based apps from the country. This ban includes popular apps which are used worldwide like TikTok and UC browsers.

The government of India has issued interim order for blocking 59 apps from the country which also included the popular app TikTok. TikTok responds to this ban on their social media platform saying that they are complying with the government’s decision and also submitting clarifications. The Indian head of TikTok, Nikhil Gandhi took to social media platforms to raise concerns. In the official social media platforms of TikTok India, Nikhil Gandhi has said that they are complying with all the rules of the government.

Since last few months there has been data driven evidence that Chinese apps does not comply with the privacy and security of its users and share the private information with the government of China. TikTok, Zoom and many other apps have been questioned regarding the security and privacy of its users. This ban of apps is a proof that the allegations on these apps are true and this raises questions of national security.

Nikhil Gandhi has also mentioned that TikTok has been invited to meet with concerned government stakeholders for an opportunity to respond and also submit clarifications from their end.

TikTok is a shot video form app which is very popular among of the youth of the world. TikTok is also claiming that they comply with all privacy requirements and that they do not share information with the Chinese Government.

TikTok along with other 58 apps have been removed from app store and also Google play store as soon as the announcement of the ban was made. Though the users who have it installed can still use it, there are reports that these apps are going to be locked in the next 48 hours as well.

This delisting and blocking will be decided in the next 48 hours as the representatives of these apps will be meeting with concerned authorities from the government to clarify.

Nikhil Gandhi has also mentioned that the privacy and security of its users is on the top of their priority list and they will not compromise any data even if the Government of China would ask them to. Gandhi also mentioned the hundreds of millions of users of TikTok whose livelihood depends on this app, and this might leave those Indians unemployed.

The apps have been delisted from the App stores and Google play store for now. There has been no update on the lifting of ban from the Indian Government. The Chinese government has also raised concerns regarding the ban of these 59 apps in India.

“TikTok continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law and has not shared any information of our users in India with any foreign government, including the Chinese government. Further if we are requested to in the future we would not do so. We place the highest importance on user privacy and integrity,” Gandhi says.

The other apps which have been banned in India include, Share it, UC Browser, Shein, Club Factory, Vmate, Helo, Mi, and many more. The main reason for the ban of these apps is that these apps are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, Defence of India, security of state, and public order.

By Deepika Agarwal