India Bans 59 Chinese Apps Including TikTok, CamScanner and UC Browser

Published Date : Jun 30, 2020
Category : Tech News
India Bans 59 Chinese Apps Including TikTok, CamScanner and UC Browser

India has banned as many as 59 Chinese apps including the most used ones like CamScanner, TikTok, WeChat, Helo, UCBrowser, ShareIt, and many more. 
Here is an extensive list of all the Chinese apps that have been banned by the Indian Government.

Alternative Apps in India
Chinese APPAlternative Indian APPCOMPANY
Cam ScannerFlashScan – PDF Scanner, Scan DocumentINNOVANA TECHLABS LIMITED
TikTokRoposo – Made In IndiaRoposo
Cache Cleaner DU App studioAdvanced Phone CleanerDroid Tonics
Clean Master – Cheetah MobileAdvanced Phone CleanerDroid Tonics
DU CleanerAdvanced Phone CleanerDroid Tonics
ShareitJioSwitch – Secure File Transfer & Share (No Ads)Reliance Retail Ltd
Shareit LiteJioSwitch – Secure File Transfer & Share (No Ads)Reliance Retail Ltd
KwaiVizmato – Video Editor & Slideshow maker!Global Delight Technologies Pvt. Ltd
UC BrowserJio Browser- Fast & Secure Indian Web BrowserReliance Corporate IT Park Limited.
SheinMyntra Online Shopping App – Shop Fashion & moreMyntra
Clash of KingsBattleCry: World War Game Free Online RPGDYNAMICNEXT
DU battery saverQ Battery Doctor-Battery Life Saver Battery CoolerFree Online & Offline Games Apps India
HeloWeLikeWeLike India
Helo LiteVidStatusQuVideo Technologies
LikeePhoto Video Maker with MusicVidMix Photo Video Maker & Video Editor Inc
YouCam makeupMakeup Photo Editor MakeoverVideoVibe
Virus CleanerAdvanced Phone CleanerDroid Tonics
APUS BrowserJioBrowser – Fast & Secure Indian Web BrowserReliance Corporate IT Park Limited
ROMWEMyntra Online Shopping App – Shop Fashion & moreMyntra
WeChatHike Sticker Chat – Fun & Expressive MessagingHike Private Limited
NewsdogJioNews – Live News, TV, Magazine, Video, e-paperReliance Corporate IT Park Limited
Beutry PlusSelfie Camera – Photo Editor, Filter & CollageMagneticStudio
Club FactoryMyntra Online Shopping App – Shop Fashion & moreMyntra
UC NewsLatest Updates, Breaking India News App – ABP LiveABP News Network
WeiboRedditreddit Inc
XenderJioSwitch – Secure File Transfer & Share (No Ads)Reliance Retail Ltd
QQ MusicGaana Music Hindi Tamil Telugu Songs Free MP3 AppGamma Gaana Ltd
Bigo LiveMeetU- Live Video Call, Stranger Chat & Random ChatMeetU Team
SelfieCityReos Camera – Art, Beauty & SelfieCube26 Developer
Mail MasterBird Mail -Email Appdewords.org
Parallel SpaceParallel AccountsImaTechInnovations
Mi Video Call – XiaomiVideo Player All FormatUPlayer
WeSyncWipro Next Smart HomeWipro Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.
ES File ExplorerES File Manager | File ExplorerGreenSoft Infotech
Viva Video – QU Video IncPhoto Video Maker with MusicVidMix Photo Video Maker & Video Editor Inc
MeituLightX Photo Editor & Photo EffectsAndOr Communications Pvt Ltd
Vigo VideoVidStatus- Share your Video statusVidstatus Team
Vault- HideYo Vault – Hide Photo & VideoYo Android
Hago Play With New FriendsLudo Kingdom – Ludo Board Online Game With FriendsComfun
Wonder CameraPhoto EditorPixels Dev Studio
Photo WonderInstaCollage | Collage MakerInstaCollage Developers
We MeetQuackQuack – Best Online Dating App in IndiaQuackQuack.in
Sweet SelfiePhoto Collage MakerPicmixBeauty Selfie CameraSnapcial
VmateVidStatus – Video Status Maker, Made for IndianVidStatus Tea
V fly Status VideoVidStatus – Video Status Maker, Made for IndianVidStatus Team
Mobile LegendsMedieval War Fighting Fantasy: Battle ScarsMotion Art Games
New Video StatusLyrical.ly – Lyrical Video Status Makerlyrical.ly
QQ NewsfeedJioNewsReliance Corporate IT Park Limited
DU RecorderScreen RecorderAppSmartz
QQ PlayerVideo Player All FormatUPlayer
Baidu TranslateMulti Language Translator ProThe Nutshell Innovasion
DU BrowserJioBrowser – Fast & Secure Indian Web BrowserReliance Corporate IT Park Limited
QQ InternationalIndian MessengerLoopytime Pvt Ltd
QQ Security CenterAdvanced Phone CleanerDroid Tonics
QQ Launcher8.1 Metro Look Launcher 2020 – Theme, Smart, DIYLaunchers World
U VideoWelike – Status Download, Video ShareStarHalo
DU PrivacyLOCKit – App Lock, Photos Vault, Fingerprint LockSuperTools Corporation
CM BrowersJioBrowser – Fast & Secure Indian Web BrowserReliance Corporate IT Park Limited

The announcement was made in a press release on Monday where the Government of India declared that steps were being taken to combat threats to its sovereignty and security. The government officials further added that the applications are believed to be engaged in activities that can be harmful to the security of the state, integrity, defense system, and sovereignty of India. Apart from this, it can also be prejudicial to its law and public order. 

The ban came into force after multiple complaints of unauthorized data leakage through several apps to servers outside India, mainly Chinese servers. In light of this, the Indian government has laid a ban on 59 Chinese apps under Section 69 A of the Information Technology Act, 2009. The Act deals with security and controlled access to public information. 

India’s decision to ban Chinese apps can officially lead to the dissolution of China’s Digital Silk Route Plans and the movement is also anticipated to be followed by several other countries. 

“The applications have been in the market for a long time, and were causing multiple privacy and security issues along with data leakage, After weighing all the aspects we decided to ban all possible applications”, said a top government official. 

Apart from this, the Ministry of Electronics and IT also added that they have come across various instances of a data breach and misuse of users’ data by these myriads of Chinese apps. 

An official from MeitY further added that the mining, extraction, and compilation of data that is dangerous for the country’s security and defense is a matter of great concern about India’s sovereignty and integrity and some immediate emergency measures are required for safeguarding the valuable information”.

He further added that the actions have been taken after scrutinizing the threats imposed by these applications on the security of 130 crore Indian citizens. Strong recommendations were also sent by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre.

Our priority is to get an answer about transparency and that the banning of these Chinese apps is not legally a part of Section 69A currently, said the Indian Freedom Foundation. In addition to this, the federation has also asked people to take the matter subjectively. An official further added that the privacy of people’s data is important and the goal can only be achieved by following strict regulatory measures.

Read Also: FlashScan: Best Alternative Scanner App For CamScanner

The Benefit to Indian Competitors

The ban on Chinese apps is a welcome move to similar Indian companies. ShareChat, the Indian social network along with InMobi, the ad tech company said that the move will open better grounds for Indian companies. In addition to this Bolo Indya, Indian TikTok rival also added that they will be benefited in the long run, and will also help in ensuring data safety and security. 

Main Aspects of the Ban on the Chinese Apps 

“The discontinuation of the Chinese apps can be considered in two aspects, firstly, the removal will hamper the Chinese economy as India was one of its major markets, whereas on the other hand the kind of data threats imposed on the users cannot be justified and does not hold much relevance in the court of law”. Said Santosh Pai, the official in charge of tracking Chinese investments in the Indian economy.

Investors like Deepak Gupta from WEK Ventures have quoted that the movement of Chinese apps out of the Indian market will also lower the competition for local developers.

What will be the Impact on Indians? 

TikTok, Bigo Live, Helo, and Likee are some of the most popular and widely used Chinese apps in India. A massive chunk of the Indian population is dependent on these apps for earning their bread and butter and might leave them unemployed. 

Is the Ban on the Chinese Mobile Apps Permanent? 

This is not the first time that the Indian Government has imposed a ban on Chinese apps. Last year Tik Tok was banned for a few days as per the orders released by the Madras Government. However, the current ban on Chinese apps is being considered as a strategic move to safeguard national security.

Prachi Dani
Prachi Dani is a technical content writer who specializes in areas of science and technology. She is highly up to date with technological transitions and transformations. Writing is not her passion but the only thing that carries satisfaction in life. If not writing, you may find her engrossed playing action games on her treasured smartphone.

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