India bans 59 Chinese mobile apps due to security concerns

India banned 59 Chinese mobile apps including top social media platforms such as TikTok, Helo and WeChat. It is to counter the threat posed by these applications to the country’s “sovereignty and security,” the India government said in a press release late on Monday.

Photo credit: indianexpress.com

ShareIT, UC browser and shopping app Clubfactory are among the other popular apps that have been blocked during the rising tensions between India and China.

Relations between the world's two most populous nations have been strained following the deaths of 20 Indian troops in a hand-to-hand fight with their Chinese counterparts on the western end of the high-altitude, contested border in mid-June.

India said the applications are engaged in activities “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, security of state and public order.” 

The Indian government also cited complaints about data on Indian users being transferred abroad without authorization.

The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) said that it had received complaints from various sources, including several reports about the misuse of some mobile apps for stealing and furtively transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers outside India. 

A top official said the government of India had considered all aspects before taking the decision. “These apps have been there for a long time, and there are some privacy and security issues with them including risks of data going out of the country,” said the top official.

Here's the complete list of the banned apps:

1. TikTok

2. Shareit

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. Beutry 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