The Indian government has effectively banned 59 Chinese mobile apps, including TikTok(Bytedance), Shareit (Lenovo Group), and WeChat (Tencent), starting today. In a press release earlier this day, they explained their actions as a “necessary step” taken to protect the country’s “sovereignty and security.”
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India Bans Chinese Apps following voluntary uninstalls
Following the recent border issue at Ladakh, tensions have risen between the two superpowers. With discontent growing amongst the general population rapidly, many Indian users displayed their displeasure by voluntarily uninstalling Chinese made apps from their devices a few weeks ago. Simple applications that detected apps of Chinese origin and allowed users to uninstall them selectively became hugely popular, raking in millions of downloads in a matter of weeks. Remove China Apps, an app that did just that, actually became India’s Top Free app on the Play Store before it was delisted from the Play Store.
Remove China Apps :Read full article here.
A public outrage turns official:
However, this time matters are different in the sense that it’s not just the people showing disinterest in using Chinese made apps, but the government itself straight-up banning it. In the press release, the government announced the official reason behind the ban as: “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, security of the state and public order.” This decision has been made under Section 69A of the Indian IT Act 2009 and as of right now shall go on indefinitely.
However, only Social Media related apps or Browsers (except the popular game Mobile Legends) seem to have been affected by the Indian Banhammer. Apps like the popular Battle Royale game PUBG(Tencent) have been spared, and the government has decided not to ban it right away. It’s interesting to note that all of the apps included in the list of 59 have had at least one allegation of misusing user data or illicit data mining on critical information about its users.
“There is legitimacy in concerns of data security and citizens’ privacy.”, say officials.
What this ban means for Indian users:
While many TikTok “influencers” and regular users of these banned Chinese apps have been very vocal about their dissatisfaction with this public ban, this could open up new doors for Indian software companies to showcase their products to their local audience. Lesser-known apps could fill the vacuum left in the market. With Chinese monopolies lifted from the app market, apps like Roposo(rival to TikTok), ShareChat(alternative to WeChat), etc. can finally flourish and get discovered by a population of users. In contrast, the users have a sense of satisfaction that they are not having their privacy violated for the sake of some foreign government.
India Bans Chinese Apps: Official List of Banned Chinese Apps
1. TikTok
2. Shareit
3. Kwai
4. UC Browser
5. Baidu map
6. Shein
7. Clash of Kings
8. DU battery saver
9. Helo
10. Likee
11. YouCam makeup
12. Mi Community
13. CM Browers
14. Virus Cleaner
15. APUS Browser
16. ROMWE
17. Club Factory
18. Newsdog
19. Beutry Plus
20. WeChat
21. UC News
22. QQ Mail
23. Weibo
24. Xender
25. QQ Music
26. QQ Newsfeed
27. Bigo Live
28. SelfieCity
29. Mail Master
30. Parallel Space
31. Mi Video Call – Xiaomi
32. WeSync
33. ES File Explorer
34. Viva Video – QU Video Inc
35. Meitu
36. Vigo Video
37. New Video Status
38. DU Recorder
39. Vault- Hide
40. Cache Cleaner DU App studio
41. DU Cleaner
42. DU Browser
43. Hago Play With New Friends
44. Cam Scanner
45. Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile
46. Wonder Camera
47. Photo Wonder
48. QQ Player
49. We Meet
50. Sweet Selfie
51. Baidu
52. Vmate
53. QQ International
54. QQ Security Center
55. QQ Launcher
56. U Video
57. V fly Status Video
58. Mobile Legends
59. DU Privacy
Does this step of digital banning amidst ongoing border issues between the countries solve the issue? Or will it increase more tensions, is it the correct step?
Let us know your thoughts on this in the comment section below.
