Union Minister of State for Information and Technology Sanjay Dhotre said more mobile applications will be banned if they collect and share data in a hidden manner, thereby compromising personal data and information of users.
"This can have a severe threat to the security of the country, and we will not let that happen," said Dhotre to THE WEEK.
While he agreed that online games like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) were popular in India, Dhotre said it is time to launch more indigenously-developed applications and videogames in the coming days.
"I can see resistance and protests in some quarters after we banned PUBG. But it will fizzle out soon. Indigenously-developed apps should be so good, that everyone in the world should start using them. The government of India will vigorously push indigenously-developed apps across the globe," said Dhotre.
He said the recent hacking of the prime minister's official Twitter account was a worrying signal. "Reducing dependence on foreign social media sites and mobile applications is the key to keeping things safe and secure," said Dhotre.
On September 2, India banned 118 more mobile apps with Chinese links because of data privacy concerns. Now, the total number of Chinese-linked mobile apps banned by India is 224. The decision came amid fresh border tensions with China in eastern Ladakh.
It is surprising why the Union government is not shutting down big companies funded by the Chinese and only targeting mobile applications, said Pranav Jha, secretary in-charge of Congress's communication department. He wondered why Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not naming the Chinese or saying anything about the border escalation.
Said Jha to THE WEEK, "Nero fiddled when Rome was burning. When India is under attack, our prime minister is feeding peacocks. We expected a firm and decisive response from our prime minister. When our defence minister [Rajnath Singh] meets his Chinese counterpart, is he going to talk about banning apps or the area [in Ladakh] illegally occupied by the People's Liberation Army?"
There were close to 50 million active PUBG players in India before it was banned. The online game follows a method, where a user has to collect automatic guns and other weapons in different locations and kill enemies to win a match. The mobile version of the game, launched in March 2018, was in news for its moreish nature. Experts said it created a negative impact on a user’s mental state.
Said Dr Harsha Haridas, a psychiatrist based in Kannur, Kerala, “PUBG addiction among teens has been increasing over time and it is not an easy one to overcome. It has worsened during the lockdown period, as a result of children having nothing else to do other than staying indoors.”
The ban on the game may induce temper tantrums and emotional outbursts in children, said Harsha. “Parents can try to engage their children in other activities and restrict screen time if possible,” she added.
Meanwhile, Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar announced an Indian app called FAU-G to cater to the same crowd. Its makers say the app is an initiative supporting prime minister's Atmanirbhar campaign.
Launching the game, Akshay tweeted: " Supporting PM @narendramodi’s Atma Nirbhar movement, proud to present a multiplayer action game, Fearless And United - Guards FAU-G. Besides entertainment, players will also learn about the sacrifices of our soldiers. 20% of the net revenue generated will be donated to #BharatKeVeer Trust."
