- // Update 1 (30/06/2020 10:18 am) TikTok has been removed from the Play Store and App Store in India
- // Update 2 (02/07/2020 12:29 pm) All 59 banned apps have been removed by Google and Apple in India
Over a week ago there were reports that the Indian government is considering banning 52 Chinese apps. Now, the government has reportedly taken an official decision to ban a total of 59 Chinese apps in the country.
The news comes from PIB in a press release. Apparently, the decision has been taken for apps “which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.”
The list of apps that have been banned includes the likes of TikTok which has been banned in India in the past as well. Also in the list are other popular apps including ShareIt, Shein, Parallel Space, and Mi Video Call.
List of 59 apps banned by Government of India "which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order”. pic.twitter.com/p6T2Tcd5rI
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020
The PIB press release says that the move is meant to “safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace.”
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As of right now, we are awaiting more information about this decision. However, we will update this article as more details come out. So check back often.
This story is developing…
Update 1 (30/06/2020 10:18 am)
Last evening, the Indian government banned a total of 59 Chinese apps claiming that they were harmful to the country’s national security. Following the decision, TikTok has been pulled from the Play Store and App Store in India.
The company has put out a statement via Twitter saying that it’s clarifying with the government, and that it never shares user data with any foreign governments.
— TikTok India (@TikTok_IN) June 30, 2020
Update 2 (02/07/2020 12:29 pm)
Google and Apple have removed from their respective app stores, all 59 apps that were banned by the Indian government.
While Apple hasn’t given a statement so far, a Google spokesperson was quoted as saying “While we continue to review the interim orders from the Government of India, we have notified the affected developers and have temporarily blocked access to the apps that remained available on the Play Store in India”.
