Nearly 300 apps have been blocked in India since border tensions with China. (Represent)
New Delhi:
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said that India has banned 54 Chinese apps that pose a threat to the country’s security.
“These 54 apps are accused of having various important permissions and collecting sensitive user data. This collected real-time data is being misused and transmitted to servers located in hostile countries,” the ministry said in a statement.
The list of banned apps includes – Sweet Selfie HD, Beauty Camera – Selfie Camera, Garena Free Fire – Illuminate, Viva Video Editor, Tencent Xriver, Onmyoji Arena, AppLock and Dual Space Lite.
In June of last year, India bans 59 Chinese mobile apps including widely used social media platforms such as TikTok, WeChat and Helo under the pretext of being a threat to the nation’s sovereignty and security. The apps were banned under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, the Department of Electronics and Information Technology said.
Nearly 300 apps have been blocked in India since border tensions with China in May 2020.
The first ban was announced in June 2020, days after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in clashes with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh.
Eastern border of Ladakh stalemate between Indian and Chinese militaries broke out on May 5, 2020, after a violent clash in the Pangong Lake area and both sides gradually increased their deployments by piling up tens of thousands of troops as well as heavy weapons.
Tensions escalated after a deadly clash in the Galwan Valley on June 15 of that year.
