The Ministry of Information and Technology, India has banned a total of 118 mobile phone applications. The long extensive list of these applications also includes the sensational online multiplayer game, PUBG. India banned PUBG in the wake of increasing tensions between Indian and Chinese troops on the eastern Ladakh and Line of Control. For the past four months, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been attempting to alter the status quo on eastern Ladakh.
Why did India ban PUBG and other Chinese apps?
India banned PUBG under the provisions of Section 69A of the Information and Technology Act. Section 69A of the aforementioned Act narrates that any activity which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, the security of state and public order should be suspended immediately. The decision of India’s ban on PUBG aims to maintain state security and promote a healthy cyberspace.
PUBG has gained considerable attention and participation from young adults in the past few months. The number of active users skyrocketed after a lockdown was imposed to combat Covid-19. Needless to say, PUBG is one of the most popular games played online. Reports indicate that there are almost 33 million active users of PUBG in India, the online multiplayer game clocks around 13 million users on a daily basis. India’s ban on PUBG is likely to invite disappointment from the youth.
PUBG along with 117 other mobile phone applications was banned when the Ministry of Information and Technology received reports that some mobile phone applications on Android and iOS platforms were being utilized for stealing and surreptitiously transferring user data to servers outside Indian territory. While these reports might have escaped the notice of the Ministry of Information and Technology in usual circumstances, these complaints were strictly pursued due to tensions on the Line of Control.
Other applications apart from PUBG banned by India’s Ministry of Information and Technology include Nordic Map: Livik, PUBG MOBILE LITE, WeChat Work & WeChat. These applications are owned and operated by Chinese companies. India has been pursuing a ban on Chinese owned applications since June. 47 applications were banned by the Indian government in July. These 47 applications were clones and variants of the 59 Chinese owned applications which were banned in June.
Rising tensions between India and China
The increasing number of clashes and skirmishes on the border between two superpowers has harbored considerable hostility among the two nations. In June, the Indian government issued a statement banning 59 applications, the reasons for doing so were “emergent nature of threats” posed by these mobile phone applications. These applications included TikTok, ShareIt, UCBrowser, Club Factory and CamScanner. Having Chinese origins, all these applications were seen as a threat to the security and privacy of the Indian citizens.
Another factor that generously contributed to the ban was that Chinese law requires companies with Chinese origins to share the data collected by them with the county’s intelligence agencies. This data is to be shared with the intelligence agencies regardless of the region where the application operates. These data-sharing norms apparent in Chinese owned mobile applications pose threats to security and privacy. The maintenance of privacy is one of the primary reasons for India’s ban on PUBG.
List of Chinese apps banned by India
1. APUS Launcher Pro- Theme, Live Wallpapers, Smart
2. APUS Launcher -Theme, Call Show, Wallpaper, HideApps
3. APUS Security -Antivirus, Phone security, Cleaner
4. APUS Turbo Cleaner 2020- Junk Cleaner, Anti-Virus
5. APUS Flashlight-Free & Bright
6. Cut Cut – Cut Out & Photo Background Editor
7. Baidu
8. Baidu Express Edition
9. FaceU – Inspire your Beauty
10. ShareSave by Xiaomi: Latest gadgets, amazing deals
11. CamCard – Business Card Reader
12. CamCard Business
13. CamCard for Salesforce
14. CamOCR
15. InNote
16. VooV Meeting – Tencent Video Conferencing
17. Super Clean – Master of Cleaner, Phone Booster
18. WeChat reading
19. Government WeChat
20. Small Q brush
21. Tencent Weiyun
22. Pitu
23. WeChat Work
24. Cyber Hunter
25. Cyber Hunter Lite
26. Knives Out-No rules, just fight!
27. Super Mecha Champions
28. LifeAfter
29. Dawn of Isles
30. Ludo World-Ludo Superstar
31. Chess Rush
32. PUBG MOBILE Nordic Map: Livik
33. PUBG MOBILE LITE
34. Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade
35. Art of Conquest: Dark Horizon
36. Dank Tanks
37. Warpath
38. Game of Sultans
39. Gallery Vault – Hide Pictures And Videos
40. Smart AppLock (App Protect)
41. Message Lock (SMS Lock)-Gallery Vault Developer Team
42. Hide App-Hide Application Icon
43. AppLock
44. AppLock Lite
45. Dual Space – Multiple Accounts & App Cloner
46. ZAKZAK Pro – Live chat & video chat online
47. ZAKZAK LIVE: live-streaming & video chat app
48. Music – Mp3 Player
49. Music Player – Audio Player & 10 Bands Equalizer
50. HD Camera Selfie Beauty Camera
51. Cleaner – Phone Booster
52. Web Browser & Fast Explorer
53. Video Player All Format for Android
54. Photo Gallery HD & Editor
55. Photo Gallery & Album
56. Music Player – Bass Booster – Free Download
57. HD Camera – Beauty Cam with Filters & Panorama
58. HD Camera Pro & Selfie Camera
59. Music Player – MP3 Player & 10 Bands Equalizer
60. Gallery HD
61. Web Browser – Fast, Privacy & Light Web Explorer
62. Web Browser – Secure Explorer
63. Music player – Audio Player
64. Video Player – All Format HD Video Player
65. Lamour Love All Over The World
66. Amour- video chat & call all over the world.
67. MV Master – Make Your Status Video & Community
68. MV Master – Best Video Maker & Photo Video Editor
69. APUS Message Center-Intelligent management
70. LivU Meet new people & Video chat with strangers
71. Carrom Friends : Carrom Board & Pool Game-
72. Ludo All Star- Play Online Ludo Game & Board Games
73. Bike Racing : Moto Traffic Rider Bike Racing Games
74. Rangers Of Oblivion : Online Action MMO RPG Game
75. Z Camera – Photo Editor, Beauty Selfie, Collage
76. GO SMS Pro – Messenger, Free Themes, Emoji
77. U-Dictionary: Oxford Dictionary Free Now Translate
78. Ulike – Define your selfie in trendy style
79. Tantan – Date For Real
80. MICO Chat: New Friends Banaen aur Live Chat karen
81. Kitty Live – Live Streaming & Video Live Chat
82. Malay Social Dating App to Date & Meet Singles
83. Alipay
84. AlipayHK
85. Mobile Taobao
86. Youku
87. Road of Kings- Endless Glory
88. Sina News
89. Netease News
90. Penguin FM
91. Murderous Pursuits
92. Tencent Watchlist (Tencent Technology
93. Learn Chinese AI-Super Chinese
94. HUYA LIVE – Game Live Stream
95. Little Q Album
96. Fighting Landlords – Free and happy Fighting Landlords
97. Hi Meitu
98. Mobile Legends: Pocket
99. VPN for TikTok
100. VPN for TikTok
101. Penguin E-sports Live assistant
102. Buy Cars-offer everything you need, special offers and low prices
103. iPick
104. Beauty Camera Plus – Sweet Camera & Face Selfie
105. Parallel Space Lite – Dual App
106. “Chief Almighty: First Thunder BC
107. MARVEL Super War NetEase Games
108. AFK Arena
109. Creative Destruction NetEase Games
110. Crusaders of Light NetEase Games
111. Mafia City Yotta Games
112. Onmyoji NetEase Games
113. Ride Out Heroes NetEase Games
114. Yimeng Jianghu-Chu Liuxiang has been fully upgraded
115. Legend: Rising Empire NetEase Games
116. Arena of Valor: 5v5 Arena Games
117. Soul Hunters
118. Rules of Survival
