India has banned dozens of apps linked to Chinese developers in the aftermath of a deadly border clash between Chinese and Indian troops.
India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology confirmed the ban of 59 Chinese apps in a Monday press release. “In view of information available they are engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order,” the Indian agency stated.
The Indian agency cited concerns that the apps are being used to steal user information.
“There have been raging concerns on aspects relating to data security and safeguarding the privacy of 130 crore Indians. It has been noted recently that such concerns also pose a threat to sovereignty and security of our country,” the Indian press release stated. “The Ministry of Information Technology has received many complaints from various sources including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India.”
The Indian press release did not name China directly, but it’s list of banned apps include the popular video-sharing app TikTok, as well as the Chinese messaging app WeChat and the UC Browser were among the list of apps blocked in India.
The ban on the Chinese apps comes after a June 15 border brawl in the Ladakh region of the Himalayas, details of which has been disputed by China and India. The Indian military stated that 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the brawl. No shots were reported in the fight, and Chinese and Indian troops instead fought hand-to-hand for several hours following a breakdown in diplomatic communications between the two opposing forces.
Concerns about Indian information security have heightened since the violent border clash. Indian cybersecurity agencies reported more than 40,000 cyber attacks on Indian information and financial websites in the days following the brawl. India indicated the majority of the cyber attacks originated from Chinese city of Chengdu, where the headquarter city for People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Unit 61398, which is associated with cyber warfare.
The cyberattacks included distributed denial of service (DDOS) efforts to flood websites with traffic and cause them to crash, as well as “phishing” attempts to steal information.
The U.S. has shown its own concern about Chinese apps like TikTok and various U.S. military branches have implemented bans on the app.
The full list of apps banned by China includes:
- TikTok
- Shareit
- Kwai
- UC Browser
- Baidu map
- Shein
- Clash of Kings
- DU battery saver
- Helo
- Likee
- YouCam makeup
- Mi Community
- CM Browers
- Virus Cleaner
- APUS Browser
- ROMWE
- Club Factory
- Newsdog
- Beutry Plus
- UC News
- QQ Mail
- Xender
- QQ Music
- QQ Newsfeed
- Bigo Live
- SelfieCity
- Mail Master
- Parallel Space
- Mi Video Call – Xiaomi
- WeSync
- ES File Explorer
- Viva Video – QU Video Inc
- Meitu
- Vigo Video
- New Video Status
- DU Recorder
- Vault- Hide
- Cache Cleaner DU App studio
- DU Cleaner
- DU Browser
- Hago Play With New Friends
- Cam Scanner
- Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile
- Wonder Camera
- Photo Wonder
- QQ Player
- We Meet
- Sweet Selfie
- Baidu Translate
- Vmate
- QQ International
- QQ Security Center
- QQ Launcher
- U Video
- V fly Status Video
- Mobile Legends
- DU Privacy
