India Bans 59 Chinese Apps : It Cannot Be Business As Usual
Hitting back where it will hurt China more than the loss of 56 Chinese soldiers, India’s Information Technology Ministry has invoked its power under section 69A of the IT Act and rules, and has decided to block 59 apps in view of information available that they are engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.
The 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, the ministry said in a statement.
The list of 59 apps that have been banned by India also include Helo, Likee, Cam Scanner, Vigo Video, Mi Video Call — Xiaomi, Clash of Kings as well as e-commerce platforms Club Factory and Shien. Tik Tok a hugely popularapos has also been banned.
The ban comes in the backdrop of the current stand-off along the Line of Actual control in eastern Ladakh with Chinese troops.
Reacting to India’s ban of the Chinese apps at a Chinese Foreign Ministry briefing, spokesman Zhao Lijian said, China is strongly concerned about the relevant notice issued by the Indian side. We are checking and verifying the situation.
“I want to stress that the Chinese government always asks the Chinese businesses to abide by international rules, local laws and regulations in their business cooperation with foreign countries,” he said. The Indian government has the responsibility to uphold the legitimate and legal rights of the international investors including the Chinese ones, he added.
The Minister should be aware that if a country attacks India then India has no obligation to uphold any rights of that country in any sphere whatsoever.
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesman talked about the practical cooperation between China and India and that it will actually be mutually beneficial and win-win.
No, we Indians certainly do not think that any economic cooperation with those who wish to grab our land will benefit us.
The Indian IT ministry statement also further added that it 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 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 said.
Here’s why govt banned TikTok, Shareit and other 57 China-linked apps
The government on Monday banned 59 mobile apps linked to China saying they are prejudicial to India’s sovereignty, integrity, security and public order.
“The Ministry of Information Technology, invoking its 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,” the government said in a statement.
It said that 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,” it said.
The government said 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,” the government said.
