India To Ban 54 More Chinese Apps Including Viva Video Editor & AppLock Citing Threat To Security: Report
3 years, 1 month ago

India To Ban 54 More Chinese Apps Including Viva Video Editor & AppLock Citing Threat To Security: Report

ABP News  

New Delhi: Centre will further ban 54 more Chinese apps that allegedly pose a threat to India’s security. “Government of India to ban 54 Chinese apps that pose a threat to India's security," the sources informed news agency ANI. The major apps that are included in the list of apps to be banned are — Beauty Camera: Sweet Selfie HD, Beauty Camera - Selfie Camera, Equalizer & Bass Booster, CamCard for SalesForce Ent, Isoland 2: Ashes of Time Lite, Viva Video Editor, Tencent Xriver, Onmyoji Chess, Onmyoji Arena, AppLock, Dual Space Lite. In June 2021, India had banned 59 Chinese apps that included major social media apps like TikTok, WeChat, and Helo.

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History of this topic

Apps banned over terror link in 2023 still thriving, government acknowledges
1 month ago

Apps banned over terror link in 2023 still thriving, government acknowledges

India Today  

In mid-2023, the Indian government banned at least 14 mobile applications – mostly used for secure communication – over inputs that were being used by Pakistan-based terrorist handlers. In an RTI response to India Today, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology acknowledged it issued orders to “intermediaries” in May 2023 to take down 14 applications under the Information Technology …

India bans 119 Chinese apps from Google Play Store citing national security concerns
1 month, 1 week ago

India bans 119 Chinese apps from Google Play Store citing national security concerns

India TV News  

India bans 119 Chinese apps from Google Play Store citing national security concerns The government has launched a digital strike, ordering the removal of 119 Chinese apps from the Google Play Store. The government has launched another digital crackdown, instructing the removal of 119 Chinese apps from the Google Play Store. This isn’t the first time; India initiated a digital …

36 Banned Chinese apps in India, now available on Google Play Store and App Store
1 month, 2 weeks ago

36 Banned Chinese apps in India, now available on Google Play Store and App Store

India TV News  

Chinese apps make a comeback in India: In 2020, India banned several Chinese apps due to security concerns. Following the Galwan Valley clash in 2020, the Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps, including UC Browser, Shein, and TikTok, citing security risks. Popular apps that have returned Many of the previously banned apps are now available again, either under a new …

Many banned Chinese apps make comeback in India: Will TikTok return?
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Many banned Chinese apps make comeback in India: Will TikTok return?

India Today  

Many of the Chinese apps that were banned in 2020 following the India-China border tensions have made a return to the Play Store in India as diplomatic relations between the two countries improve. With the evolving political landscape, the return of some of the banned Chinese apps - the question on everyone's mind is: Will TikTok make a comeback to …

Many banned Chinese apps re-appear as India-China ties warm up
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Many banned Chinese apps re-appear as India-China ties warm up

India Today  

Remember hundreds of Chinese apps were banned in 2020? After four years, India Today's Open-Source Intelligence team reviewed more than 200 of the banned mobile applications and found that original or clone versions of at least 36 of them were available either on Google's Play Store or Apple's App Store or on both platforms as of February 10. Similarly, Xender …

TikTok: A Chinese trojan horse in democracies
2 months, 1 week ago

TikTok: A Chinese trojan horse in democracies

Firstpost  

TikTok’s algorithmic manipulation is to curate China’s peaceful intentions, glorify China’s developmental experience, blunt criticism of the communist party, and promote tourism in China while painting others as declining powers, aggressors, or even incompetent Even though China debarred global social internet sites like Google, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Yahoo, and others more than a decade ago, the issue of proscription of …

5 Years of TikTok Ban in India: Which countries have banned the app and why?
2 months, 1 week ago

5 Years of TikTok Ban in India: Which countries have banned the app and why?

India TV News  

India’s ban on TikTok completed five years in January 2025 and marks the move as a significant milestone in the global flight over the app’s controversial nature. ByteDance-owned TikTok ban was a part of a broader move towards addressing the concerns over national security, cyber threats and online content regulation which were not matching with the security protocol of the …

TikTok back in US: A look at its India journey and what happened after 2020 ban
2 months, 1 week ago

TikTok back in US: A look at its India journey and what happened after 2020 ban

Live Mint  

From teenage dancers to grandmothers sharing cooking tips, video-sharing app TikTok has been embraced for its ability to transform an ordinary person into a global celebrity when a video goes viral. TikTok’s India journey and govt ban Indian users had flocked to TikTok as early as 2017. Citing national security concerns, India banned TikTok along with more than 50 other …

TikTok ban: Why did India ban TikTok five years ago?
2 months, 1 week ago

TikTok ban: Why did India ban TikTok five years ago?

The Hindu  

TikTok, the popular short-video app, was just about to face a shut down in the U.S. after the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the app to be sold by its Chinese parent company ByteDance or banned on Sunday in the United States on national security grounds but Donald Trump came to the rescue, giving them more time to find an approved …

How TikTok became the world’s most controversial app
2 months, 1 week ago

How TikTok became the world’s most controversial app

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. TikTok stopped working in the United States late on Saturday and disappeared from Apple and Google app …

Good morning, America: Why India banned TikTok 5 years back
2 months, 1 week ago

Good morning, America: Why India banned TikTok 5 years back

India Today  

On January 19, 2025, millions of American users who logged into TikTok were left stunned after getting a pop-up message declaring the app was temporarily unavailable. TikTok officially suspended its services in the United States on Sunday after a landmark ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the government’s decision to ban the app, citing national security concerns. WHEN INDIA …

Amid 'ban' on TikTok over data concerns, Americans rush to another Chinese app 'Red Note': What happened
2 months, 1 week ago

Amid 'ban' on TikTok over data concerns, Americans rush to another Chinese app 'Red Note': What happened

Op India  

With the imminent ban on TikTok in the United States, users of the video-sharing app in the North American country are migrating to yet another Chinese app named Xiaohongshu. pic.twitter.com/UTxkeQ7Bhy — Han Shawnity 🇺🇸 January 17, 2025 When India banned Chinese apps and the rationale behind the decision In 2024, a leading security expert Tzeng Yi-suo explained, “Information security risks …

TikTok faces a survival test in US that began in India
2 months, 2 weeks ago

TikTok faces a survival test in US that began in India

Firstpost  

The story of TikTok’s many legal challenges began in India when the country imposed a total ban on the platform in 2020 following New Delhi’s simmering geopolitical tensions with Beijing Will TikTok continue to host thousands of content creators in the US or not is up to the Supreme Court’s hearing on Friday that would either force its Chinese owner …

Nepal lifts TikTok ban after blocking app over ‘social harmony’ concerns
7 months ago

Nepal lifts TikTok ban after blocking app over ‘social harmony’ concerns

Al Jazeera  

Move comes weeks after Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli was sworn into office following the collapse of the previous government. The move comes after Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, who was sworn in last month after the collapse of the previous coalition government, issued a directive calling for the equal treatment of all social networking platforms, state-run National …

The ghosts of India's TikTok: What happens when a social media app is banned
11 months ago

The ghosts of India's TikTok: What happens when a social media app is banned

BBC  

The ghosts of India's TikTok: What happens when a social media app is banned Getty Images TikTok was one of India's most popular apps – until it was banned in 2020. Banning a massive social media app would be an unprecedented moment in American tech history, though the looming court battle currently leaves TikTok's fate uncertain. When TikTok went offline …

TikTok may be banned in the US. Here’s what happened when India did it
11 months ago

TikTok may be banned in the US. Here’s what happened when India did it

Associated Press  

NEW DELHI — The hugely popular Chinese app TikTok may be forced out of the U.S., where a measure to outlaw the video-sharing app has won congressional approval and is on its way to President Biden for his signature. In June 2020, TikTok users in India bid goodbye to the app, which is operated by Chinese internet firm ByteDance. The …

US House passes bill that can force China's ByteDance to either sell TikTok or get banned
1 year ago

US House passes bill that can force China's ByteDance to either sell TikTok or get banned

Op India  

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that can force the Chinese company ByteDance, the owner of the short video app TikTok, to either sell TikTok to a US-based company or get banned in the country. The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill that would give TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance about six months to divest the …

India is the first country to ban TikTok over security concerns
1 year ago

India is the first country to ban TikTok over security concerns

India TV News  

As the US House of Representatives passed legislation which could lead to a ban on TikTok, a short format video sharing platfrom which has around 170 million American users, it was the Indian government which first decided to block the platform in the world. The government blocked TikTok along with other 59 Chinese applications because of security concerns. In 2020, …

India should be pragmatic about huge Chinese investments
1 year, 7 months ago

India should be pragmatic about huge Chinese investments

Live Mint  

Officially, India would love to do business with China. BYD’s proposal ran afoul of a 2020 amendment to India’s foreign direct investment policy that made government approval mandatory for any investment originating from a country with which India shares a land border. India’s trade with China declined – albeit marginally – in the first half of 2023 after more than …

Apple removes 1,474 apps in 2022, THESE many from India
1 year, 10 months ago

Apple removes 1,474 apps in 2022, THESE many from India

India TV News  

Apple removed 1,474 apps from its App Store as per requests from various governments to take down such apps in 2022, including a massive 1,435 from mainland China and just 14 from India. According to the company's '2022 App Store Transparency Report', the Pakistan government requested to take down 10 apps while Russia asked to remove seven apps for violating …

TikTok CEO grilled in connection with China, calls India's ban 'hypothetical'
2 years ago

TikTok CEO grilled in connection with China, calls India's ban 'hypothetical'

Deccan Chronicle  

Washington : TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before US Congress amid growing security concerns and potential Chinese government influence over the company. During a four-hour long hearing, Chew time and again stressed that the TikTok app, which is owned by the Chinese technology company Bytedance, has long maintained that it does not share data with the Chinese government and …

TikTok employees can still access Indian users data despite ban: Report
2 years ago

TikTok employees can still access Indian users data despite ban: Report

Hindustan Times  

Despite China's app TikTok has been banned by Centre for around three years now, the employees of the short-video sharing platform and its Beijing-based parent, ByteDance can still access the personal data of Indian users, says a report from Forbes. The report claims that anyone at the companies with simple access to their tools can retrieve and analyse specific information …

China criticizes possible US plan to force TikTok sale
2 years ago

China criticizes possible US plan to force TikTok sale

Associated Press  

BEIJING — China’s government said Thursday it would oppose possible U.S. plans to force TikTok’s Chinese owner to sell the short-video service as a security risk and warned such a move would hurt investor confidence in the United States. A forced sale “would seriously damage investors from multiple countries including China” and hurt “confidence to invest in the United States,” …

US, UK, New Zealand and more... Why are these countries banning TikTok?
2 years ago

US, UK, New Zealand and more... Why are these countries banning TikTok?

Firstpost  

More than one billion people use TikTok to watch its brief video posts globally, demonstrating its enormous popularity. United States According to AP, this week, the U.S. said that government agencies have 30 days to delete TikTok from federal devices and systems over data security concerns. United Kingdom British authorities said Thursday that they are banning the Chinese-owned video-sharing app …

India to UK, TikTok banned in these countries; Pak blocked Chinese app 4 times!
2 years ago

India to UK, TikTok banned in these countries; Pak blocked Chinese app 4 times!

Hindustan Times  

British authorities prohibited the use of the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok on official devices on Thursday. With this, UK joined the list of at least countries who have banned use of TikTok for its employees on charges ranging from privacy concerns to national security to inducing harmful content. These countries have banned TikTok India Citing privacy and security concerns, Centre …

China appeals for fair treatment after latest TikTok bans
2 years ago

China appeals for fair treatment after latest TikTok bans

Associated Press  

BEIJING — China appealed Friday to other governments to treat its companies fairly after Britain and New Zealand joined the United States in restricting use of TikTok due to fears the Chinese-owned short video service might be a security risk. Governments are worried TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, might give browsing history or other data about users to China’s government or promote …

‘Creative Imagination’: Govt Denies Report on New Security Testing for Smartphones
2 years ago

‘Creative Imagination’: Govt Denies Report on New Security Testing for Smartphones

News 18  

The Central government has denied a news report by Reuters stating that it is likely to force smartphones makers to permit the removal of pre-installed applications and mandate screening of major operating system updates under proposed new security rules, calling it “unfettered creative imagination”. “Story is based on lack of understanding perhaps n unfettered creative imagination that is based an …

India plans new security testing for smartphones, crackdown on pre-installed apps
2 years ago

India plans new security testing for smartphones, crackdown on pre-installed apps

The Hindu  

India plans to force smartphone makers to allow removal of pre-installed apps and mandate screening of major operating system updates under proposed new security rules, according to two people and a government document seen by Reuters. The new rules, details of which have not been previously reported, could extend launch timelines in the world's No.2 smartphone market and lead to …

India May Ask Smartphone Makers to Allow Removal of Pre-installed Apps, Says Report
2 years ago

India May Ask Smartphone Makers to Allow Removal of Pre-installed Apps, Says Report

News 18  

The Central government is likely to force the makers of smartphones to permit the removal of pre-installed applications and mandate screening of major operating system updates under proposed new security rules, as per Reuters. It is a matter of national security.” The new rules is likely to extend launch timelines in the world’s No.2 smartphone market and lead to losses …

Military Agencies Issue Advisory Against 11 Chinese Mobile Brands; Troops Asked to Switch to Phones
2 years ago

Military Agencies Issue Advisory Against 11 Chinese Mobile Brands; Troops Asked to Switch to Phones

News 18  

Amid the ongoing standoff between India and China on the Line of Actual Control, military intelligence agencies have issued an advisory against the use of commercially available Chinese mobile phones by Indian troops. The list includes OnePlus, OPPO, and Realme, among 11 other well-known Chinese mobile brands in the Indian market, according to the document accessed by CNN News 18. …

Chinese apps were banned because…: Foreign Secretary explains
2 years ago

Chinese apps were banned because…: Foreign Secretary explains

Hindustan Times  

Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Saturday said that the Chinese applications were banned in India to stop the spread of misinformation, the spread of disinformation, and fake information. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra "To answer your question on what's the interface that government has, to balance the availability of information, availability of misinformation, the spread of disinformation and fake information, …

China says TikTok ban reflects US insecurities
2 years ago

China says TikTok ban reflects US insecurities

Associated Press  

BEIJING — U.S. government bans on Chinese-owned video sharing app TikTok reveal Washington’s own insecurities and are an abuse of state power, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday. “How unsure of itself can the U.S., the world’s top superpower, be to fear a young person’s favorite app to such a degree?” The White House is giving all federal agencies, …

China hits out at US TikTok ban: ‘How unsure of itself can a superpower be?’
2 years ago

China hits out at US TikTok ban: ‘How unsure of itself can a superpower be?’

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy US government bans on …

After India, TikTok gets banned in this country over national security reasons
2 years, 1 month ago

After India, TikTok gets banned in this country over national security reasons

India Today  

TikTok has been banned yet again, but this time in Canada. On Monday, Canada announced a ban on the use of the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok on government-issued devices due to concerns over privacy and security risks.The Canadian government said that the app is getting banned because it presents unacceptable levels of risk and security. "While the risks of …

'Tiki, Helo, ShareKaro': Experts Concern About Banned Chinese Apps Returning to India in New Forms
2 years, 1 month ago

'Tiki, Helo, ShareKaro': Experts Concern About Banned Chinese Apps Returning to India in New Forms

News 18  

In 2020, following the Galwan Valley clash, the government had banned 59 Chinese apps, including popular ones like TikTok, WeChat, and ShareIt, to protect the privacy of its citizens. In response, Tiki denied any association with China or any Chinese apps or companies and said their servers and user data are strictly based in India. ShareKaro, Helo, and Resso are …

138 Chinese apps that got banned by the Indian Government: Complete list, reason and more
2 years, 1 month ago

138 Chinese apps that got banned by the Indian Government: Complete list, reason and more

India TV News  

138 Chinese apps that got banned by the Indian Government: Complete list, reason and more The government has banned a bulk of apps which has a third-party link. Witnessing the constant complaints against the Chinese loan and betting applications, MeitY- the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has started the process of banning 138 betting apps in India. Here is …

Centre blocks 138 betting and 94 loan apps linked to China
2 years, 1 month ago

Centre blocks 138 betting and 94 loan apps linked to China

Hindustan Times  

The Centre has blocked over138 betting and 94 loan apps with Chinese links on an urgent and emergency basis. The decision was taken after confirming that the 138 betting apps contained material prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of the country. Last year, the ministry had banned 54 Chinese apps which posed threat to India's security. The government had said the …

Centre to ban 138 betting, 94 loan apps with Chinese links
2 years, 1 month ago

Centre to ban 138 betting, 94 loan apps with Chinese links

India Today  

In a big development, the Centre has taken a decision to ban and block 138 betting apps and 94 loan-lending apps with Chinese links on an “urgent” and “emergency” basis. Several states as well as central intelligence agencies had then asked the Union Home Ministry to take action against these apps, sources said The MHA, based on these inputs, started …

‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ More Popular? 6 in 10 Indians Shed Habit of Purchasing Made-in-China Items
2 years, 3 months ago

‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ More Popular? 6 in 10 Indians Shed Habit of Purchasing Made-in-China Items

News 18  

Six out of 10 Indians reduced their ‘Made in China’ purchases this year, given the geopolitical situation. In response, 58 percent Indians said they had reduced their Chinese purchases due to the current geopolitical situation between the two countries; 26 percent said they found Indian alternatives to be better in terms of price, quality, and customer service; 11 percent opted …

Full list of Chinese apps banned in India so far: PUBG Mobile, Garena Free Fire, TikTok and hundreds more
2 years, 7 months ago

Full list of Chinese apps banned in India so far: PUBG Mobile, Garena Free Fire, TikTok and hundreds more

India Today  

In the last few years, the government of India has ordered to ban around 250 Chinese apps citing them to be “prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state and public order”. Ban on popular mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Garena Free Fire shocked not only the players but also the Esports …

VLC Media Player Banned in India; Fresh Downloads, Website Non-Functional
2 years, 7 months ago

VLC Media Player Banned in India; Fresh Downloads, Website Non-Functional

The Quint  

As per reports, VLC media player has been banned as it was being used by Cicada, a China-backed hacking group, for causing cyberattacks by deploying malicious code on target systems. These attacks are reportedly part of larger cyberattack campaign, aimed at targeting government-related institutions or NGOs, some of whom work in the areas of education and religion. In February this …

VLC banned in India. Twitterati upset 'life saving app' will no longer be in use
2 years, 7 months ago

VLC banned in India. Twitterati upset 'life saving app' will no longer be in use

India TV News  

VLC banned in India. Twitterati upset 'life saving app' will no longer be in use VLC media player has been banned in India due to cyber security issues. Some reports suggest that VLC Media Player has been banned in the country because the platform was used by China-backed hacking group Cicada for cyber attacks. VLC media player banned, netizens react …

India not planning to ban Chinese smartphones priced at less than ₹12k: Report
2 years, 7 months ago

India not planning to ban Chinese smartphones priced at less than ₹12k: Report

Hindustan Times  

Amid speculations that the Union government is planning to ban Chinese firms from selling in India smartphones that cost less than ₹12,000, top government officials, responding to reports in this regard, have said that the Centre, in fact, has no plan to restrict companies from the neighbouring country from the entry-level smartphone market. Companies from the world's second-largest economy dominate …

The China link: How an intel agency's report, letter from MHA triggered ban on popular game BGMI
2 years, 7 months ago

The China link: How an intel agency's report, letter from MHA triggered ban on popular game BGMI

Firstpost  

Developer Krafton has said it is working to bring the game back. “The analysis also showed that this application has malicious code and also acquires a host of critical permissions, which could be misused for compromising user data for surveillance through camera/microphone, location tracking, and malicious network activities,” a senior government official told News18 on the condition of anonymity. “On …

The China Link: How An Intel Agency's Report, Letter from MHA Triggered Ban on Popular Game BGMI
2 years, 7 months ago

The China Link: How An Intel Agency's Report, Letter from MHA Triggered Ban on Popular Game BGMI

News 18  

It was a report by a central intelligence agency and communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology that triggered a ban on popular battle royale game Battlegrounds Mobile India. WATCH VIDEO: BGMI Ban REAL Reason: Govt Officials Say It’s A BIG Cyber Threat To India According to a senior government official, the …

India should probe Vivo according to law, not discriminate: China
2 years, 8 months ago

India should probe Vivo according to law, not discriminate: China

Hindustan Times  

China on Wednesday said it hopes India would conduct investigations into the Chinese smartphone company Vivo according to law and provide a “fair” and “non-discriminatory” business environment for Chinese firms. China is closely following developments related to the raids on the offices of Vivo in India, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, said on Wednesday when asked about the case. …

Govt urged to block Chinese app BGMI-PUBG in the interest of security
3 years, 1 month ago

Govt urged to block Chinese app BGMI-PUBG in the interest of security

India TV News  

PRAHAR, an NGO has urged the government to block the Chinese gaming app BGMI-PUBG and add it to the list of 54 Chinese apps banned on February 14, 2022 saying its omission in the list is a "clear lapse in judgement on part of the Government". Ashwani Mahajan, National Co-Convener, Swadeshi Jagaran Manch said, "We congratulate the Government on their …

China asks India ‘to improve business environment’ after apps ban, tax probes
3 years, 1 month ago

China asks India ‘to improve business environment’ after apps ban, tax probes

The Hindu  

China’s Ministry of Commerce on Thursday asked India “to improve its business environment” and to ensure “non-discriminatory” treatment of its firms, in the wake of a new ban on Chinese apps and recent tax probes on Chinese telecom and mobile firms. On Thursday, Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng said “relevant Indian authorities have taken a series of measures to …

The app ban is a good first step
3 years, 1 month ago

The app ban is a good first step

Hindustan Times  

India expanded a ban on mobile software by Chinese-origin developers and investors, adding 54 apps that government officials privately listed out to reporters this week. These apps, government officials said on Monday, “were allegedly engaged in activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of the country also posing serious threat to security of the state and defense of India”. Last …

India bans 54 Chinese mobile apps over national security fears
3 years, 1 month ago

India bans 54 Chinese mobile apps over national security fears

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy India’s federal government has banned …

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