Government of India’s Ministry of Electronics And IT today issued a press release today announcing a list of 59 apps which will be banned in India, which are being banned due to Privacy concerns. This to ensure privacy and data security of the 130 crore Indians.
The apps list includes apps like Tiktok, Shareit and many more. The list is as follows.
- TikTok
- Share it
- Kwai
- UC Browser
- Baidu map
- Shein
- Clash of Kings
- DU battery saver
- Helo
- Likee
- YouCam makeup
- Mi Community
- CM Browers
- Virus Cleaner
- APUS Browser
- ROMWE
- Club Factory
- News dog
- Beauty Plus
- UC News
- QQ Mail
- Xender
- QQ Music
- QQ Newsfeed
- Bigo Live
- SelfieCity
- Mail Master
- Parallel Space
- Mi Video Call – Xiaomi
- WeSync
- ES File Explorer
- Viva Video – QU Video Inc
- Meitu
- Vigo Video
- New Video Status
- DU Recorder
- Vault-Hide
- Cache Cleaner DU App studio
- DU Cleaner
- DU Browser
- Hago Play With New Friends
- Cam Scanner
- Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile
- Wonder Camera
- Photo Wonder
- QQ Player
- We Meet
- Sweet Selfie
- Baidu Translate
- Vmate
- QQ International
- QQ Security Center
- QQ Launcher
- U Video
- V fly Status Video
- Mobile Legends
- DU Privacy
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| List of banned apps released by Government. |
A good thing to know about this list is that it includes apps like Tiktok which was very very popular in India and some important apps like cam scanner. The apps also include apps like UC browser and share it, Personally, I hate these two apps because of the User experience and the number of vulgar ads they show in their apps.UC browser had included a line in their description “you can watch po*n websites in this browser”This kind of sentence promotes such vulgar content on the app which I think should be banned no matter what.
The list also includes Xiaomi apps like mi community and mi video call. Many utility apps including cam scanner, parallel space,xender and share it. The twitter alternative of China is also banned i.e.weibo.This is the first time that such a major decision is being made by the Government of India for such matter. I appreciate the step taken towards such matter which includes people privacy.
The Government of India “has decided to disallow the usage of these 59 apps, used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet-enabled devices.” This means that Indian users will not be able to access these apps and services through either the mobile app or through a website sometime after today, though it’s unclear if the government will force app stores to delist these apps on mobile app stores on top of blocking these services on an ISP-level.
India is citing section 69A of the Information Technology Act in its decision to ban these 59 mobile apps. Section 69A of the IT Act reads as follows:
69A. Power to issue directions for blocking for public access of any information through any computer resource.–
Where the Central Government or any of its officers specially authorised by it in this behalf is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do, in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to above, it may subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), for reasons to be recorded in writing, by order, direct any agency of the Government or intermediary to block for access by the public or cause to be blocked for access by the public any information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer resource.
The procedure and safeguards subject to which such blocking for access by the public may be carried out, shall be such as may be prescribed.
The intermediary who fails to comply with the direction issued under sub-section (1) shall be punished with an imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and also be liable to fine.
The Ministry of Electronics and IT notes “raging concerns on aspects relating to data security and safeguarding the privacy of 130 crore Indians” as a contributing factor in its decision. The ministry “has received many complaints from various sources including several reports about the misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India.” Because of “the compilation of [this] data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India,” the Ministry of Electronics and IT considers this matter “of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures.” We will keep an eye out on this news to see if the ban list is expanded, shrunk, or dismissed entirely in the coming days.
I am glad these apps are banned, User privacy should be the number one priority. I hope the government takes appropriate action.
