Baidu, AliPay and several games on government's new list of banned apps

Baidu, AliPay and several games on government's new list of banned apps

Baidu, AliPay and several games on government's new list of banned apps

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on Tuesday announced a ban on the popular mobile game, PUBG: Mobile, along with 118 other apps deemed “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity” of India.

In a press release, MEITY said that it was invoking its power under Section 69A of the IT Act within the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 in view of “emergent nature of threats” has decided to block 118 mobile apps since they are “engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India , security of state and public order.”

PUBG: Mobile had over 119 million installs in India by the end of 2019. 

“The Ministry of Electronics and 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 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 upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which require emergency measures,” the order read.

Other apps that are now banned include AliPay, Baidu, WeChat Work, WeChat Reading, and several games. 

Since the worsening of relations between India and China, the government has announced a ban on over 100 apps of Chinese origin or with Chinese links including TikTok. 

TAGS