New Delhi: The Indian govt is going to ban 54 Chinese Apps, a source close to the Ministry of Electronics and IT said. This is going to be the first time in 2022, that the centre has announced the ban. The ban comes as investigations reveal them capable of breaching the nation’s security. However, no official statement on this has yet been issued.
The 54 Chinese apps include Beauty Camera: Sweet Selfie HD, Beauty Camera – Selfie Camera, Equalizer & Bass Booster, CamCard for SalesForce Ent, Isoland 2: Ashes of Time Lite, Viva Video Editor, Tencent Xriver, Onmyoji Chess, Onmyoji Arena, AppLock, Dual Space Lite, Alibaba, NetEase.
It was in 2020, the centre had first banned 250 Chinese apps. Later in June last year, social apps like Tik Tok WeChat, and Helo keeping in view the threat to the nation’s sovereignty and security. The majority of the apps banned through the June 29 order, were red-flagged by intelligence agencies over concerns that they were collecting user data and possibly also sending them “outside”. Later in September, the same year, the centre again banned 118 apps, stating that they are “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state and public order”.
The latest move to barring could be an instance of the tensions between the two neighbouring nations locked in a protracted border dispute impacting business dealings.