By Raju Vernekar
New Delhi, Sept. 3:
The Union Government banned 118 Chinese apps, including PUBG and Chinese search engine Baidu, under section 69A of the Information Technology Act, over security concerns on Wednesday.
In an official communication the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, stated that the decision to block the apps was taken under section 69A of the Information Technology Act and the provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009, in view of the emergent nature of threats, since these apps are engaged in activities prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has received many complaints from various sources including several reports about 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. The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty of India, which is a matter of deep and immediate concern. As such it requires emergency measures, the communication stated.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Union Ministry of Home Affairs has also sent an exhaustive recommendation for blocking these malicious apps.. Likewise, there have been similar bipartisan concerns, flagged by various public representatives, both outside and inside the Parliament of India. There has been a strong chorus in the public space to take strict action against Apps that harm India’s sovereignty as well as the privacy of our citizens, the communication added.
The move would safeguard the interests of millions of Indian mobile and internet users. “This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety, security and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace,” the govt said.
The latest development comes at a time when fresh tensions emerged between India and China this week as hundreds of soldiers of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) crossed into the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) south of Pangong Tso lake. The government earlier banned 59 Chinese apps in June after a similar stand-off in Galwan Valley resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers.
Chinese tech giant Tencent-backed PUBG is a popular gaming app in India with over 40 million active users in India. It is classified as one of the two unicorn mobile games in India by AppAnnie. The other Chinese origin apps that have been banned include Alipay, Ludo All Star, We Chat reading and Super Clean among others. Apart from PUBG, the list of apps banned by the government also includes Game of Sultans, Applock, CamOCR and VPN for TikTok. Ever since the government announced its decision to ban the apps, #PUBG is among the top Twitter trends.
The banned apps are: 1. APUS Launcher Pro- Theme, Live Wallpapers, Smart. 2. APUS Launcher-Theme, Call Show, Wallpaper, HideApps, 3. APUS Security -Antivirus, Phone Security, Cleaner, 4. APUS Turbo Cleaner 2020- Junk Cleaner, Anti-Virus, 5. APUS Flashlight-Free & Bright, 6. Cut Cut – Cut Out & Photo Background Editor, 7. Baidu, 8.Baidu Express Edition, 9. FaceU – Inspire your Beauty, 10. ShareSave by Xiaomi: Latest gadgets, amazing deals, 11. CamCard – Business Card Reader, 12. CamCard Business, 13. CamCard for Salesforce, 14. CamOCR, 15. InNote, 16. Voor Meeting – Tencent Video Conferencing, 17. Super Clean – Master of Cleaner, Phone Booster, 18. WeChat reading 19. Government WeChat, 20. Small Q brush, 21. Tencent Weiyun, 22. Pitu, 23. WeChat Work, 24. Cyber Hunter, 25. Cyber Hunter Lite and 26. Knives Out-No rules, just fight!
27. Super Mecha Champions, 28. LifeAfter, 29. Dawn of Isles, 30. Ludo World-Ludo Superstar, 31. Chess Rush, 32.PUBG MOBILE Nordic Map: Livik, 33.PUBG MOBILE LITE, 34. Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade, 35. Art of Conquest: Dark Horizon, 36. Dank Tanks, 37. Warpath, 38. Game of Sultans, 39. Gallery Vault – Hide Pictures And Videos, 40. Smart AppLock (App Protect), 41. Message Lock (SMS Lock)-Gallery Vault Developer Team, 42. Hide App-Hide Application Icon, 43. AppLock, 44. AppLock Lite, 45. Dual Space – Multiple Accounts & App Cloner, 46. ZAKZAK Pro – Live chat & video chat online, 47. ZAKZAK LIVE: live-streaming & video chat app, 48. Music – Mp3 Player, 49. Music Player – Audio Player & 10 Bands Equalizer, 50. HD Camera Selfie Beauty Camera, 51. Cleaner – Phone Booster, 52. Web Browser & Fast Explorer, 53. Video Player All Format for Android, 54. Photo Gallery HD & Editor and 55. Photo Gallery & Album.
56. Music Player – Bass Booster – Free Download, 57. HD Camera – Beauty Cam with Filters & Panorama, 58. HD Camera Pro & Selfie Camera, 59. Music Player – MP3 Player & 10 Bands Equalizer, 60. Gallery HD, 61. Web Browser – Fast, Privacy & Light Web Explorer, 62. Web Browser – Secure Explorer, 63. Music Player – Audio Player, 64. Video Player – All Format HD Video Player, 65. Lamour Love All Over The World, 66. Amour- video chat & call all over the world, 67. MV Master – Make Your Status Video & Community, 68. MV Master – Best Video Maker & Photo Video Editor, 69. APUS Message Center-Intelligent management, 70. LivU Meet new people & Video chat with strangers, 71. Carrom Friends: Carrom Board & Pool Game, 72. Ludo All-Star- Play Online Ludo Game & Board Games, 73. Bike Racing: Moto Traffic Rider Bike Racing Games and 74. Rangers Of Oblivion: Online Action MMO RPG Game
75. Z Camera – Photo Editor, Beauty Selfie, Collage, 76. GO SMS Pro – Messenger, Free Themes, Emoji, 77. U-Dictionary: Oxford Dictionary Free Now Translate, 78. Unlike – Define your selfie in trendy style, 79. Tantan – Date For Real, 80. MICO Chat: New Friends Banaen our Live Chat Karen, 81. Kitty Live – Live Streaming & Video Live Chat, 82. Malay Social Dating App to Date & Meet Singles, 83. Alipay, 84. AlipayHK, 85. Mobile Taobao, 86. Youku, 87. Road of Kings- Endless Glory, 88. Sina News, 89. Netease News, 90. Penguin FM, 91. Murderous Pursuits, 92. Tencent Watchlist (Tencent Technology), 93. Learn Chinese AI-Super Chinese, 94. HUYA LIVE – Game Live Stream, 95. Little Q Album and 96. Fighting Landlords – Free and happy Fighting Landlords.
97. Hi Meitu, 98. Mobile Legends: Pocket, 99. VPN for TikTok, 100. VPN for TikTok, 101. Penguin E-sports Live assistant, 102. Buy Cars-offer everything you need, special offers, and low prices, 103. I pick 104. Beauty Camera Plus – Sweet Camera & Face Selfie, 105. Parallel Space Lite – Dual App, 106.”Chief Almighty: First Thunder BC, 107. MARVEL Super War NetEase Games, 108. AFK Arena, 109. Creative Destruction NetEase Games, 110. Crusaders of Light NetEase Games, 111. Mafia City Yotta Games, 112. Onmyoji NetEase Games, 113. Ride Out Heroes NetEase Games, 114. Yimeng Jianghu-Chu Liuxiang has been fully upgraded, 115. Legend: Rising Empire NetEase Games, 116. Arena of Valor: 5v5 Arena Games, 117. Soul Hunters and 118. Rules of Survival.
