The Central government has issued fresh instructions to ban 54 Chinese apps calling them a threat to privacy and national security, said sources .
Reportedly, a large number of these mobile applications belong to tech giants like Tencent, Alibaba and NetEase. Some of these 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.
It should be noted that these applications are largely rebranded and rechristened avatars of apps that have already been banned in the country since 2020.
In its latest order, the ministry of electronics and IT said that these apps were transferring sensitive data of Indians to servers in foreign countries such as China.
It also directed top app stores including Google’s Playstore to block these applications. A govt official confirmed, “The 54 apps have already been blocked from being accessed in India through the PlayStore.”
Since June 2020, the government has banned a total of around 224 Chinese apps starting with about 59 apps in the first round, including popular applications like TikTok, PUBG, Shareit, WeChat, Helo, Likee, UC News, Bigo Live, UC Browser, ES File Explorer, and Mi Community.
While PUBG Mobile, somehow made a comeback in India with Krafton setting up a new office and cutting ties with its Chinese partners, TikTok hasn’t been that lucky and continues to be banned in the country.
