Chinese App: Government of India bans 59 Chinese apps including UC News, Tik Tok, and Bigo

The Government of India on Monday announced the ban on 59 Chinese apps including UC News, Tik Tok, Bigo Live, and many others.”

In a statement issued, the Ministry of Information Technology said, “These apps have been removed under section 69A of the Information Technology Act, read with the relevant provision of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009.”

“The Ministry of Information Technology has received several 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 user data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India,” the statement said.

“The compilation of these data, its mining, and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defense of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures,” the Ministry in its statement added.

“The Ministry has also received many representations raising concerns from citizens regarding the security of data and risk to privacy relating to the operation of certain apps. The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) has also received many representations from citizens regarding the security of data and breach of privacy impacting upon public order issues. There have been similar bipartisan concerns, flagged by various public representatives, both outside and inside the Parliament of India,” the statement added.

Adding to the statement, the Ministry further said, “Such apps pose threats 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.”

List of Apps:

1. TikTok
2. Shareit
3. Kwai
4. UC Browser
5. Baidu map
6. Shein
7. Mi Video Call – Xiaomi
8. WeSync
9. ES File Explorer
10. Viva Video – QU Video Inc
11. Meitu
12. Vigo Video
13. Clash of Kings
14. DU battery saver
15. Helo
16. Likee
17. YouCam makeup
18. Mi Community
19. CM Browers
20. Virus Cleaner
21. APUS Browser
22. ROMWE
23. Club Factory
24. Newsdog
25. Beutry Plus
26. WeChat
27. UC News
28. QQ Mail
29. Weibo
30. Xender
31. QQ Music
32. QQ Newsfeed
33. Bigo Live
34. SelfieCity
35. Mail Master
36. Parallel Space
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