New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government on Wednesday banned 118 Chinese-linked mobile applications, including two versions of the popular game PUBG, in a move that it said was needed to safeguard the interests of “crores of Indian mobile and Internet users”.
A press release from the IT ministry does not use the word ‘China’, but merely says that these apps are “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, Defence of India, Security of State and Public Order”.
The move comes just a couple of days after India said China had violated the border consensus reached between them during recent peace talks and that their troops had carried out “provocative military movements” to change the status quo in Ladakh.
Most of the banned apps are either operated by Chinese companies and developers or have Chinese investment.
Also read: Examining the Legal and Policy Process Behind India’s Ban on Chinese Apps
This is the third wave of bans that have been issued by the government. In July, the IT ministry banned 47 apps, which were clones or variants of 59 Chinese apps that had been earlier banned in June.
In its press release on Wednesday, the IT ministry said it had received several complaints from various sources including reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms. The complaints alleged stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorised manner to servers which possibly had locations outside India.
“The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence 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 statement said.
“On the basis of these and upon receiving of recent credible inputs that information posted, permissions sought, functionality embedded as well as data harvesting practices of above stated Apps raise serious concerns that these Apps collect and share data in surreptitious manner…. In the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India and security of the State. And using the sovereign powers, the Government of India has decided to block the usage of certain Apps, used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet enabled devices.”
The full list of blocked apps can be seen below:
APUS Launcher Pro- Theme, Live Wallpapers, Smart
APUS Launcher -Theme, Call Show, Wallpaper, HideApps
APUS Security -Antivirus, Phone security, Cleaner
APUS Turbo Cleaner 2020- Junk Cleaner, Anti-Virus
APUS Flashlight-Free & Bright
Cut Cut – Cut Out & Photo Background Editor
Baidu
Baidu Express Edition
FaceU – Inspire your Beauty
ShareSave by Xiaomi: Latest gadgets, amazing deals
CamCard – Business Card Reader
CamCard Business
CamCard for Salesforce
CamOCR
InNote
VooV Meeting – Tencent Video Conferencing
Super Clean – Master of Cleaner, Phone Booster
WeChat reading
Government WeChat
Small Q brush
Tencent Weiyun
Pitu
WeChat Work
Cyber Hunter
Cyber Hunter Lite
Knives Out-No rules, just fight!
Super Mecha Champions
LifeAfter
Dawn of Isles
Ludo World-Ludo Superstar
Chess Rush
PUBG MOBILE Nordic Map: Livik
PUBG MOBILE LITE
Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade
Art of Conquest: Dark Horizon
Dank Tanks
Warpath
Game of Sultans
Gallery Vault – Hide Pictures And Videos
Smart AppLock (App Protect)
Message Lock (SMS Lock)-Gallery Vault Developer Team
Hide App-Hide Application Icon
AppLock
AppLock Lite
Dual Space – Multiple Accounts & App Cloner
ZAKZAK Pro – Live chat & video chat online
ZAKZAK LIVE: live-streaming & video chat app
Music – Mp3 Player
Music Player – Audio Player & 10 Bands Equalizer
HD Camera Selfie Beauty Camera
Cleaner – Phone Booster
Web Browser & Fast Explorer
Video Player All Format for Android
Photo Gallery HD & Editor
Photo Gallery & Album
Music Player – Bass Booster – Free Download
HD Camera – Beauty Cam with Filters & Panorama
HD Camera Pro & Selfie Camera
Music Player – MP3 Player & 10 Bands Equalizer
Gallery HD
Web Browser – Fast, Privacy & Light Web Explorer
Web Browser – Secure Explorer
Music player – Audio Player
Video Player – All Format HD Video Player
Lamour Love All Over The World
Amour- video chat & call all over the world.
MV Master – Make Your Status Video & Community
MV Master – Best Video Maker & Photo Video Editor
APUS Message Center-Intelligent management
LivU Meet new people & Video chat with strangers
Carrom Friends : Carrom Board & Pool Game-
Ludo All Star- Play Online Ludo Game & Board Games
Bike Racing : Moto Traffic Rider Bike Racing Games
Rangers Of Oblivion : Online Action MMO RPG Game
Z Camera – Photo Editor, Beauty Selfie, Collage
GO SMS Pro – Messenger, Free Themes, Emoji
U-Dictionary: Oxford Dictionary Free Now Translate
Ulike – Define your selfie in trendy style
Tantan – Date For Real
MICO Chat: New Friends Banaen aur Live Chat karen
Kitty Live – Live Streaming & Video Live Chat
Malay Social Dating App to Date & Meet Singles
Alipay
AlipayHK
Mobile Taobao
Youku
Road of Kings- Endless Glory
Sina News
Netease News
Penguin FM
Murderous Pursuits
Tencent Watchlist (Tencent Technology
Learn Chinese AI-Super Chinese
HUYA LIVE – Game Live Stream
Little Q Album
Fighting Landlords – Free and happy Fighting Landlords
Hi Meitu
Mobile Legends: Pocket
VPN for TikTok
VPN for TikTok
Penguin E-sports Live assistant
Buy Cars-offer everything you need, special offers and low prices
iPick
Beauty Camera Plus – Sweet Camera & Face Selfie
Parallel Space Lite – Dual App
“Chief Almighty: First Thunder BC
MARVEL Super War NetEase Games
AFK Arena
Creative Destruction NetEase Games
Crusaders of Light NetEase Games
Mafia City Yotta Games
Onmyoji NetEase Games
Ride Out Heroes NetEase Games
Yimeng Jianghu-Chu Liuxiang has been fully upgraded
Legend: Rising Empire NetEase Games
Arena of Valor: 5v5 Arena Games
Soul Hunters
Rules of Survival