The Centre on Monday banned over 50 new Chinese mobile applications, including Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade, Tencent Xriver, Nice Video baidu and Viva Video Editor, due to concerns related to privacy and national security.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued interim directions for blocking 54 apps, sources said, adding that these applications were allegedly collecting sensitive user data, which were being misused and transmitted to servers located outside India. The source also cited threat to national security and sovereignty as the reason for the app ban.
Also read: The Hindu Explains | What will be the impact of Chinese apps ban?
The list of banned mobile apps include Beauty Camera: Sweet Selfie HD, Beauty Camera - Selfie Camera, Garena Free Fire – Illuminate, Astracraft, FancyU pro, MoonChat, Barcode Scanner - QR Code Scan, and Lica Cam.
The government had last year banned over 200 Chinese mobile applications, including popular ones such as TikTok, Shareit, Mi Video Call, Club Factory and Cam Scanner, citing threat to national security and sovereignty. The announcement had come amid border tensions between India and China in Ladakh.
In June 2021, the government had banned 59 Chinese apps including the popular short video sharing platform TikTok, UC Browser, WeChat and Bigo Live, saying they were prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country.
Both moves came in the backdrop of India's ongoing stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh with China.
The stand-off has been going on since April 2020.
India shares a 3,400 km-long LAC with China from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
(With inputs from PTI)
