NEW DELHI:
The centre has reportedly issued orders to ban more than 54 Chinese apps. The reason for the ban is cited to be the privacy and security of Indian citizens, the sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Monday.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has identified 54 applications, a number of which belong to Chinese technology firms such as Tencent, Alibaba and gaming firm NetEase and are rebranded avatars of apps that were prohibited in the country in 2020.
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, Onmyoji Chess, Onmyoji Arena, AppLock, Dual Space Lite, etc.
The latest move could be a fallout of the current standoff between India and China locked in a protracted border dispute.
This is the first lot of apps to be banned by the government this year after a total of 270 apps were banned since 2020.
The MeitY had banned 59 Chinese apps in June 2020 referring to them as being ‘prejudicial’ to India’s sovereignty, integrity and national security. The list included the popular smartphone app TikTok, Helo, WeChat, Kwai, Clash of Kings, Alibaba’s UC Browser and UC News, Likee, Bigo Live, Shein, Club Factory, and Cam Scanner besides others.
