The government has banned another 47 Chinese apps in India. Earlier, 59 Chinese apps were banned to “protect national interest and security” including the popular TikTok app. 

The new list mostly includes the ones which were operating as clones of 59 apps which were banned earlier. The banned clones include TikTok Lite, Helo Lite, Shareit Lite and Bigo Live Lite, among others.

The IT Ministry had invoked its power under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act and rules to block the 59 apps in view of information available that they were “engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order”.

Meanwhile, the government has prepared a list of over 250 apps that would be examined for any user privacy or national security violations. Mostly the bans are due to the alleged flow of data from the apps to China that poses a threat to sovereignty and integrity of India.

According to industry estimates, Chinese Internet companies have about 300 million unique users in India. It indicates that nearly two-thirds of smartphone users in the country have downloaded a Chinese app.

Government is mulling to frame a law or some form of a regulation for monitoring such apps operating in India. Infact, India is now the battleground especially for Chinese and American companies that are vying to dominate one of the world’s largest Internet markets with an estimated base of 450 million smartphone users. 

According to Gateway House, a Mumbai based think tank, nearly $20 billion was invested in India recently from American giants like Google and Facebook. China has over the years carved out a significant role in the country's tech industry and 18 of India’s 30 unicorns are Chinese-funded, the report added.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store