India’s Government Bans 59 Mobile Apps

These Are Prejudicial To Sovereignty And Integrity Of India, Defence Of India, Security Of State And Public Order

Invoking authority under section 69A of the Information Technology Act, the Ministry of Information Technology has agreed to block 59 applications in view of the changing existence of the risks and in view of the protocols and safeguarding for the blocking of access to information by the public Rules 2009.

India has been a major innovator in technology growth and a major market for digital space in the last few years.

In contrast, anxiety was widespread about data security concerns and the preservation of the privacy of 130 Indian crore. Recently, it was recognized that these issues often pose a challenge to our country’s sovereignty and stability. The Ministry of IT has received a vast number of complaints from a wide range of outlets, including many allegations of the misuse of mobile apps for the theft and transfer of user information to servers located outside India on Android and IOS platforms. Compiling this info, manipulating it and rendering profiles of individuals hostile to India’s national security and safety, ultimately impacting India’s sovereignty and independence, is a matter of deep and serious concern and requiring emergency action.

A comprehensive advice has also been submitted by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center, Ministry of Home Affairs, to block these malicious apps. This Ministry has received numerous statements, which raise citizens’ concerns about data protection and the risks to privacy associated with the operation of certain applications.  The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) has also made citizens’ statements surrounding cyber protection and data breach, which focus on public order issues, comprehensive.  Specific bipartite views were raised both outside and within the parliament of India, highlighted by separate members of the public. In the general public, there has been a clear voice to take stringent action against Apps that threaten India’s sovereignty and our citizens’ privacy.

Based on these, the government of India has agreed to ban the use of such Applications, both in mobile and non-mobile Internet activated devices, despite recent reliable evidence that these Applications pose a threat to the sovereignty and integrity of India.

This move will protect the interests of mobile and Internet users from Indian crores. This decision is a step to ensure Indian cyberspace ‘s stability and sovereignty.

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