Indian Govt Bans Chinese Apps Including TikTok, Shein, Helo Among Others

Here is a low down on the ban on Chinese apps in India which includes some of the biggest brands having access to millions of Indians.

appa banned

The Indian government has banned 59 Chinese apps which includes some of the biggest names like TikTok, Shein, ClubFactory, Shareit, WeChat, and Helo. Though the apps were used by millions of Indians on various platforms, the move has now been welcomed by many in the view of the current India-China faceoff at Ladakh.

These Chinese apps have been banned for“engaging in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order”.

The move was announced bythe Information Technology Ministry, as they had received a number of complaints that the apps were stealing user data and transmitting it to servers located outside India.

The TikTok India Head office issued a statement saying that "it was in the process of complying with the government order and continued to comply with data privacy and security requirements under Indian law".

The app also asserted that it gives the most importance to privacy and integrity.

"We have been invited to meet with concerned government stakeholders for an opportunity to respond and submit clarifications," said TikTok India head Nikhil Gandhi.

chinese

"TikTok has democratised the internet by making it available in 14 Indian languages, with hundreds of millions of users, artists, storytellers, educators, and performers depending on it for their livelihood, many of whom are first-time internet users," he added.

The Ministry of Information Technology said that the decision "is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace."

Not just TikTok, but shopping apps including Club Factory, Shein among several others have been banned too with most of them catering to a host of Indian consumers.

shopping apps

There was also a scare among netizens that the gaming app PUBG may have been banned too. PUBG, a Korean app, with a lot of Chinese investment, is available and far away from the current ban.

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Apparently, India has the highest number of TikTok users in the world as of 2020, having downloaded more than 611 million times.

Here is the entire list of the apps banned, as stated by Economic Times:

  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

The ban garnered some interesting reactions that flooded Twitter. Here are some of them:

— Haroon Akram (@listenharoon) June 29, 2020

What Is The Ban?

If you already have the app downloaded in your system then that remains but you will not get any new notifications or upgrading reminders. Also, you will be able to see only the old feed and nothing new can be uploaded. If you are planning to be a new user, then you will not be able to get one installed since the apps have been removed from all app stores.

The Repercussions Of The Ban

According to several industry experts, the ban will affect many Indian users. The Chairperson of Biocon, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw tweeted that the "government has actually provided a huge opportunity to tech startups to leverage the app ban and create new and innovative apps. If they miss this opportunity, they have themselves to blame. This can revive tech jobs in a big way.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder, Paytm too tweeted on the micro-blogging website saying: "Bold step in the national interest. A step towards Atmanirbhar App ecosystem. Time for the best Indian entrepreneurs to come forward and build the best by Indians, for Indians!"

Naveen Tewari, Founder, InMobi too welcomes the move.

While many of these apps were more into the entertainment and lifestyle section,a few of them were even used for professional work.

Other Countries That Have Banned Chinese Apps

It is worth noticing here that India is not the only country to have banned TikTok. Several other countries like Germany and Taiwan have already banned the same in their respective nations.

The ban, which is largely seen as a repercussion to India-China faceoff in Ladakh, was anticipated for some time now. However, it remains to be seen if there will be any modification to the current order by the government.

For more updates on this, please stay tuned to HerZindagi.

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