India To Ban 54 More Chinese Apps Including Viva Video Editor & AppLock Citing Threat To Security: Report

Though this is not the first time that the Indian government is banning Chinese apps on grounds of security. In June 2021, India had banned 59 Chinese apps.

New Delhi: Centre will further ban 54 more Chinese apps that allegedly pose a threat to India’s security. “Government of India to ban 54 Chinese apps that pose a threat to India's security," the sources informed news agency ANI.

The major apps that are included in the list of apps to be banned are — Beauty Camera: Sweet Selfie HD, Beauty Camera - Selfie Camera, Equalizer & Bass Booster, CamCard for SalesForce Ent, Isoland 2: Ashes of Time Lite, Viva Video Editor, Tencent Xriver, Onmyoji Chess, Onmyoji Arena, AppLock, Dual Space Lite.

Though this is not the first time that the Indian government is banning Chinese apps on grounds of security. In June 2021, India had banned 59 Chinese apps that included major social media apps like TikTok, WeChat, and Helo. 

The ban was imposed citing that the majority of apps were red-flagged by security agencies for collecting user data and allegedly sending it out of the country. 

The previous app ban had taken place after 20 of the Indian soldiers and an unspecified number of Chinese soldiers were martyred in violent clashes in Galwan valley in eastern Ladakh across the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Later in September 2021, the Indian government had banned 118 more Chinese apps citing a threat to the sovereignty of the country. The government had stated that these apps were “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state and public order.”

China has opposed the bans citing it as a violation of the World Trade Organization’s non-discriminatory principles.