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India bans 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, UC Browser

The move comes amid mounting border tension between India and China

Representative image | Reuters

Amid mounting tension at the border, India on Monday banned 59 mobile applications with Chinese links, including popular apps like TikTok and UC Browser, accusing them of being prejudicial to sovereignty, integrity and security of the country.

The Ministry of Information Technology blocked these apps by invoking its power under section 69A of the Information Technology Act and the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009.

“The ministry has decided to block 59 apps 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,” said an official statement.

“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 statement said, adding that the ministry had  received many complaints from various sources.

There were also 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 ministry said.

The IT ministry said the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre of the Ministry of Home Affairs had sent an exhaustive recommendation for blocking these “malicious” 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, it said.

“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,” the ministry further said in its statement. 

The banned apps are:

    TikTok

    Shareit

    Kwai

    UC Browser

    Baidu map

    Shein

    Clash of Kings

    DU battery saver

    Helo

    Likee

    YouCam makeup

    Mi Community

    CM Browers

    Virus Cleaner

    APUS Browser

    ROMWE

    Club Factory

    Newsdog

    Beutry Plus

    WeChat

    UC News

    QQ Mail

    Weibo

    Xender

    QQ Music

    QQ Newsfeed

    Bigo Live

    SelfieCity

    Mail Master

    Parallel Space

    Mi Video Call – Xiaomi

    WeSync

    ES File Explorer

    Viva Video – QU Video Inc

    Meitu

    Vigo Video

    New Video Status

    DU Recorder

    Vault- Hide

    Cache Cleaner DU App studio

    DU Cleaner

    DU Browser

    Hago Play With New Friends

    Cam Scanner

    Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile

    Wonder Camera

    Photo Wonder

    QQ Player

    We Meet

    Sweet Selfie

    Baidu Translate

    Vmate

    QQ International

    QQ Security Center

    QQ Launcher

    U Video

    V fly Status Video

    Mobile Legends

    DU Privacy