Centre blocks 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, WeChat

Jul 01, 2020 18:07 IST

On Monday, the Indian government announced its move to ban 59 mobile apps using servers in China like TikTok, Shein, CamScanner and UC Browser, "to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace". The ban is introduced in the backdrop of rising border tensions between India and China leading to the death of 20 Indian soldiers in Galwan Valley, Eastern Ladakh. Nikhil Pahwa, Founder, medianama.com, says that there have been reports in Indian publications quoting government sources that there have been sustained cyber attacks on Indian websites over the last couple of months since border tensions have escalated. Many groups have called for a ban on TikTok in India as well. Sec 69 A orders though, are meant to be confidential - the govt. is not bound to announce them. An announcement of this scale is a political statement. Blaise Fernandes, Director, Gateway House, says that WTO gives all sovereign states the power to do what ever they deem proper economically to protect their integrity in an event of border skirmishes. Even the USA has ring-fenced these apps - which means if you are a government employee, you cannot have any of these apps on your phone. These apps can be used to promote strategic propaganda, this is a good move.