Livemint : Sep 03, 2020, 08:10 AM
New Delhi: Indian government on Wednesday blocked 118 more mobile applications, including PUBG, in the interest of "sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order" by invoking Section 69 of Information Technology Act.The banned apps include Baidu, Baidu Express Edition, Tencent Watchlist, FaceU, WeChat Reading, Ludo All Star, Alipay and Tencent Weiyun, besides PUBG Mobile and PUBG Mobile Lite, according to an official statement."The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India invoking it’s power under section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 and in view of the emergent nature of threats has decided to block 118 mobile apps since 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 Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said in an official release.The Ministry said it 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 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 Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs has also sent an exhaustive recommendation for blocking these malicious apps.. Likewise, there have been similar bipartisan concerns, flagged by various public representatives, both outside and inside the Parliament of India. There has been a strong chorus in the public space to take strict action against Apps that harm India’s sovereignty as well as the privacy of our citizens."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 and compromise personal data and information of users that can have a severe threat to security of the State."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. These apps are listed in the attached appendix," the ministry added.This move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety, security and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace, the ministry said further.The latest move from Indian government comes at a time when China allegedly made a transgression attempt near the southern bank of Pangong Tso, which was thwarted by the Indian Army.In June this year, India banned 59 apps with Chinese links, including TikTok, UC Browser, Weibo, Baidu Map and Baidu Translate saying they were prejudicial to sovereignty, integrity and security of the country.Here's the complete list of the 118 mobile apps that have been banned:APUS Launcher Pro- Theme, Live Wallpapers, SmartAPUS Launcher -Theme, Call Show, Wallpaper, HideAppsAPUS Security -Antivirus, Phone security, CleanerAPUS Turbo Cleaner 2020- Junk Cleaner, Anti-VirusAPUS Flashlight-Free & BrightCut Cut – Cut Out & Photo Background EditorBaiduBaidu Express EditionFaceU - Inspire your BeautyShareSave by Xiaomi: Latest gadgets, amazing dealsCamCard - Business Card ReaderCamCard BusinessCamCard for SalesforceCamOCRInNoteVooV Meeting - Tencent Video ConferencingSuper Clean - Master of Cleaner, Phone BoosterWeChat readingGovernment WeChatSmall Q brushTencent WeiyunPituWeChat WorkCyber HunterCyber Hunter LiteKnives Out-No rules, just fight!Super Mecha ChampionsLifeAfterDawn of IslesLudo World-Ludo SuperstarChess RushPUBG MOBILE Nordic Map: LivikPUBG MOBILE LITERise of Kingdoms: Lost CrusadeArt of Conquest: Dark HorizonDank TanksWarpathGame of SultansGallery Vault - Hide Pictures And VideosSmart AppLock (App Protect)Message Lock (SMS Lock)-Gallery Vault Developer TeamHide App-Hide Application IconAppLockAppLock LiteDual Space - Multiple Accounts & App ClonerZAKZAK Pro - Live chat & video chat onlineZAKZAK LIVE: live-streaming & video chat appMusic - Mp3 PlayerMusic Player - Audio Player & 10 Bands EqualizerHD Camera Selfie Beauty CameraCleaner - Phone BoosterWeb Browser & Fast ExplorerVideo Player All Format for AndroidPhoto Gallery HD & EditorPhoto Gallery & AlbumMusic Player - Bass Booster - Free DownloadHD Camera - Beauty Cam with Filters & PanoramaHD Camera Pro & Selfie CameraMusic Player - MP3 Player & 10 Bands EqualizerGallery HDWeb Browser - Fast, Privacy & Light Web ExplorerWeb Browser - Secure ExplorerMusic player - Audio PlayerVideo Player - All Format HD Video PlayerLamour Love All Over The WorldAmour- video chat & call all over the world.MV Master - Make Your Status Video & CommunityMV Master - Best Video Maker & Photo Video EditorAPUS Message Center-Intelligent managementLivU Meet new people & Video chat with strangersCarrom Friends : Carrom Board & Pool Game-Ludo All Star- Play Online Ludo Game & Board GamesBike Racing : Moto Traffic Rider Bike Racing GamesRangers Of Oblivion : Online Action MMO RPG GameZ Camera - Photo Editor, Beauty Selfie, CollageGO SMS Pro - Messenger, Free Themes, EmojiU-Dictionary: Oxford Dictionary Free Now TranslateUlike - Define your selfie in trendy styleTantan - Date For RealMICO Chat: New Friends Banaen aur Live Chat karenKitty Live - Live Streaming & Video Live ChatMalay Social Dating App to Date & Meet SinglesAlipayAlipayHKMobile TaobaoYoukuRoad of Kings- Endless GlorySina NewsNetease NewsPenguin FMMurderous PursuitsTencent Watchlist (Tencent TechnologyLearn Chinese AI-Super ChineseHUYA LIVE – Game Live StreamLittle Q AlbumFighting Landlords - Free and happy Fighting LandlordsHi MeituMobile Legends: PocketVPN for TikTokVPN for TikTokPenguin E-sports Live assistantBuy Cars-offer everything you need, special offers and low pricesiPickBeauty Camera Plus - Sweet Camera & Face SelfieParallel Space Lite - Dual App"Chief Almighty: First Thunder BCMARVEL Super War NetEase GamesAFK ArenaCreative Destruction NetEase GamesCrusaders of Light NetEase GamesMafia City Yotta GamesOnmyoji NetEase GamesRide Out Heroes NetEase GamesYimeng Jianghu-Chu Liuxiang has been fully upgradedLegend: Rising Empire NetEase GamesArena of Valor: 5v5 Arena GamesSoul HuntersRules of Survival