The Indian government will ban 54 Chinese apps that pose a threat to India’s security.
The Federal Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said it had received a request from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to block 54 applications under the emergency provisions envisaged by Section 69(A) of the IT Act.
Banned apps include Beauty Camera: Sweet Selfie HD, Beauty Camera – Selfie Camera, Equalizer & Bass Booster, CamCard for SalesForce Ent, Island 2: Ashes of Time Lite, Viva Video Editor, Tencent Xriver, Onmyoji Chess, Onmyoji Arena, AppLock and Dual Space Lite.
According to a report shared by the MHA, the apps are either cloned versions or have similar features, privacy concerns and security threats, the ministry said, as the centre had previously claimed among the 267 apps it blocked in 2020 .
The center blocked 59 apps on June 29, 2020, followed by 47 related/clone apps on August 10, 2020. Since then, 118 apps were blocked on September 1, 2020, and another 43 apps were blocked on November 19, the same year.
The 54 apps allegedly obtained various key permissions and collected sensitive user data, the ministry said. “This collected real-time data is misused and transmitted to servers located in hostile countries. This will allow them to compile vast amounts of personal data for mining, sorting, analysis and characterization of elements hostile to India’s sovereignty and integrity and activities that endanger national security. ,” the IT ministry said in a statement.
“Furthermore, there are other serious issues as some of these apps can conduct spying and surveillance activities via camera/microphone, access precise location (GPS) and conduct malicious cyber activities similar to previously blocked apps. It is alleged that , these apps engage in activities that are detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of the country and also pose a serious threat to the national security and defence of India,” it added.
The latest move could be an example of tensions between the two neighbours mired in a protracted border dispute affecting business deals.
Complete News Source : Hindustan Times
