As the internet penetrates every aspect of our lives, so does the use of smartphones and mobile applications. The mobile app industry has seen an explosion of apps in recent years, making them an indispensable part of our routines. However, not all apps are created equal, which is why India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology imposed a ban on 89 apps in 2020. In this article, we will delve deeper into what these apps were and why they were banned.
The ban was imposed amid border tensions between India and China, as most of the banned apps were developed by Chinese companies. The Ban was mainly imposed on the grounds of national security and privacy concerns. These apps were said to be collecting user data and sending them back to servers in China without the user’s knowledge or consent. This data could be used for various purposes, including espionage, cyberattacks, and disrupting India’s sovereignty.
The banned apps covered a wide range of categories, including social media, gaming, health, news, travel, and productivity. Among the top banned apps that created significant ripples were TikTok, Shein, UC Browser, WeChat, and CamScanner. Let’s take a closer look at what these apps were all about and why they were deemed risky by the Indian Government.
TikTok was the most popular app that was banned, with over 120 million active users in India. TikTok is a video-sharing app that allowed users to create short videos with music, filters, and various effects. The main concern with TikTok was its censorship policy, which could potentially influence India’s political narrative and cultural values. In addition, the app was notorious for spreading indecent and vulgar content, which is against India’s moral and religious values.
Shein is a popular shopping app that offered cheap and trendy fashion for women. The app’s main concern was its uncertain supply chain, which could potentially compromise the user’s personal information, including credit card details. Additionally, the app was noted for selling counterfeit products, which could potentially harm the user.
UC Browser was a popular web browser that offered fast and convenient browsing for mobile users. The main concern was its data tracking policy, which could potentially breach user privacy and security. The app was notorious for collecting user data, including their search history, location, and browsing behavior.
WeChat is a popular messaging app that offered various features like messaging, video calling, and social media integration. The app’s main concern was its censorship policy, which could potentially influence India’s political and cultural narrative. In addition, the app was notorious for collecting user data and sharing it with the Chinese authorities.
CamScanner is a popular scanning app that allowed users to scan documents and save them as PDF files. The main concern was its malware-infected code that could potentially harm the user’s device and steal sensitive information.
In conclusion, the Indian Government’s decision to impose a ban on 89 apps was mainly to protect national security and privacy concerns. These apps were deemed risky and potentially harmful to the users and India’s sovereignty. While some of these apps were successful in offering innovative solutions, they failed to adhere to India’s cybersecurity laws and regulations. In the future, app developers must take user privacy and security seriously to avoid such bans. Users, on the other hand, must be educated and aware of the apps they use and the data they share to protect themselves from potential threats.
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