List of 59 Chinese mobile apps banned in India

The Government of India has blocked 59 apps under Section 69A of the IT Act. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has banned the apps that are engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) received multiple complaints from various sources as well as reports have also emerged about the misuse of users' data in an unauthorized manner to the servers located outside India by the mobile applications available on both Android and iOS platforms. Thus, to safeguard the data of 130 crore Indians, 59 apps have been banned in India. 

Not only MeitY but the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs has also recommended blocking several apps in the country. This recommendation was sent after the Ministry of Home Affairs received several complaints and rising concerns from the citizens over the data security and threat to privacy while using certain apps. The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) also received similar complaints from the citizens. 

Keeping the above-mentioned concerns in view and also after receiving several credible inputs about the Apps which pose threat to sovereignty and integrity of India, the Government of India has decided to disallow the usage of certain Apps, used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet-enabled devices.

Earlier, the Intelligence agencies of India red-flagged 52 mobile apps that were linked to China over concerns that they extract huge information outside India. As per a report compiled by Hindustan Times, the Intelligence agencies sent the list to the government to either block the apps in India or advice people not to use these apps. The decision was backed by the National Security Council Secretariat. 

Many apps that have been blocked by the Government of Indian are widely popular among Indians, such as TikTok, SHAREit, UC Browser, UC News, SHEIN, Mi Community, Helo, etc. All of these apps are live on both Andriod and iOS platforms in India. 

However, this is not the first time that the Indian Security Agencies have asked the Indians to refrain themselves from using the apps that are linked with China. Earlier this year, the Ministry of  Home Affairs, Government of India, has issued an advisory over the Zoom video conferencing app that it is not safe to use as it is vulnerable to cyber-attacks. The app is already banned in countries like Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, etc. 

In a 16-page advisory, the Cyber Coordination Centre (CyCord) has warned that the Zoom app is vulnerable to cyber-attacks, which may lead to the leakage of the sensitive information to the criminals. Ministry of Home Affairs further stated that people who are still willing to use the Zoom app must follow certain safety measures. 

Is Zoom App safe? Check what Ministry of Home Affairs cautioned users about the video-conferencing platform?

List of 59 banned mobile apps 

1. TikTok
2. SHARE it
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. Beauty 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 Translate
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
     

As per the Government of India, these applications that are either developed by China or launched by companies linked to China for Andriod and iOS platforms and have the potential to be used as spyware or some other kind of malicious ware. Many Western countries have also raised concerns over using the hardware and software linked with China as the information can be used by its Government in case of conflicts. 

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