The order issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said that the 59 mobile applications that have been banned by the Government of India "are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order”.
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The decision to ban 59 Chinese mobile applications comes amid the heightened tensions with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh's Galwan Valley region.
As per reports, the government has asked phone companies to block the applications, after weeks of discussions that started much before the Ladakh border standoff with China.
A government press release announcing the ban stated: "The Ministry of Information Technology, invoking it’s power under section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 and in view of the emergent nature of threats has decided to block 59 apps ( see Appendix) since in view of information available they are engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order."
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The release further said that Ministry of Information Technology has received many complaints from various sources including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India.
The release also highlight that the move to ban these Chinese apps move will "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," it read.