Centre Bans 59
Chinese Apps, including TikTok
Govt Bans 59 Mobile Apps which
are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence
of India, security of state and public order
Posted On: 29 JUN 2020 8:47PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Information Technology,
invoking it’s 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 59 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.
Over the last few years, India has emerged as
a leading innovator when it comes to technological advancements and a primary
market in the digital space.
At the same time, there have been raging
concerns on aspects relating to data security and safeguarding the privacy of
130 crore Indians. It has been noted recently that such concerns also pose a
threat to sovereignty and security of our country. The Ministry of Information
Technology has received many 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 unauthorized
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 Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre,
Ministry of Home Affairs has also sent an exhaustive recommendation for
blocking these malicious apps. This Ministry has also received many
representations raising concerns from citizens regarding security of data and
risk to privacy relating to operation of certain apps. The Computer Emergency
Response Team (CERT-IN) has also received many representations from citizens
regarding security of data and breach of privacy impacting upon public order
issues. Likewise, there have been similar bipartisan concerns, flagged by
various public representatives, both outside and inside the Parliament of
India. There has been a strong chorus in the public space to take strict action
against Apps that harm India’s sovereignty as well as the privacy of our
citizens.
On the basis of these and upon receiving of
recent credible inputs that such Apps pose threat to sovereignty and integrity
of India, the Government of India has decided to disallow 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 and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace.
Appendix
|
1.
TikTok 2.
Shareit 3.
Kwai 4.
UC Browser 5.
Baidu map 6.
Shein 7.
Clash of Kings 8.
DU battery saver 9.
Helo 10.
Likee 11.
YouCam
makeup 12.
Mi
Community 13.
CM Browers 14.
Virus Cleaner 15.
APUS Browser 16.
ROMWE 17.
Club Factory 18.
Newsdog 19.
Beutry Plus 20.
WeChat 21.
UC News 22.
QQ Mail 23.
Weibo 24.
Xender 25.
QQ Music 26.
QQ Newsfeed 27.
Bigo Live 28.
SelfieCity 29.
Mail Master 30.
Parallel Space |
31.
Mi
Video Call – Xiaomi 32.
WeSync 33.
ES File Explorer 34.
Viva Video – QU Video Inc 35.
Meitu 36.
Vigo Video 37.
New Video Status 38.
DU Recorder 39.
Vault- Hide 40.
Cache Cleaner DU App studio 41.
DU Cleaner 42.
DU Browser 43.
Hago Play
With New Friends 44.
Cam Scanner 45.
Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile 46.
Wonder Camera 47.
Photo Wonder 48.
QQ Player 49.
We Meet 50.
Sweet Selfie 51.
Baidu Translate 52.
Vmate 53.
QQ International 54.
QQ Security Center 55.
QQ Launcher 56.
U Video 57.
V fly Status Video 58.
Mobile Legends 59.
DU Privacy |