India makes ban on TikTok, WeChat, 57 other Chinese apps permanent

When it first imposed the ban, the Indian government gave the 59 apps a chance to explain their position on privacy and security compliance
New Delhi made the ban permanent as it was ‘not satisfied’ with the companies’ response, a source told domestic media

India

Reuters

Published: 8:56am, 26 Jan 2021

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India’s ministry of electronics and information technology has issued fresh notices to make permanent a ban imposed on video app TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps in June, Indian media reported late on Monday.

When it first imposed the ban, the Indian government gave the 59 apps a chance to explain their position on compliance with privacy and security requirements, The Times of India reported.

The companies, which include ByteDance’s popular video-sharing app TikTok and Tencent Holdings’ WeChat, were also asked to respond to a list of questions, the newspaper said.

Tencent Holdings’ WeChat is among the apps that have been permanently banned by India. Photo: Shutterstock

“The government is not satisfied with the response/explanation given by these companies. Hence, the ban for these 59 apps is permanent now,” business newspaper Livemint quoted a source familiar with the notices as saying. It said the notices were issued last week.

The ministry’s June order stated that the apps were “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order”.

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The order, which India referred to as a “digital strike”, followed a skirmish with Chinese troops at a disputed Himalayan border site when 20 Indian soldiers were killed.

In September, India banned another 118 mobile apps, including Tencent’s popular video game PUBG, as it stepped up the pressure on Chinese technology companies following the stand-off at the border.

A TikTok representative told The Economic Times newspaper that the company was evaluating the notice and will respond to it as appropriate.

The ministry of electronics and information technology could not be reached for comment outside regular working hours. TikTok did not respond to a request for comment.