TikTok, a new video sharing platform that is set to be a formidable rival to YouTube is no longer a legitimate app to be used by Indians, for TikTok is among the 59 apps that the Indian government have placed a ban on.
Why the Ban
TikTok and the other 58 apps (which includes Xender, Vmate, Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile, Viva Video – QU Video Inc, ES File Explorer, and others) that were banned by the Indian governments are not own by Indian companies.
However, the move to ban this apps by the Indian government is not because they want to encourage their local app developers, but it is because of a growing concern that these app poses a threat to their security as a nation.
In a Press release I found in the Press Information Bureau of the Indian Government, it said and I quote “there have been raging concerns on aspects relating to data security and safeguarding the privacy of 130 crore Indians. … The 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 press release also added: “On the basis of these and upon receiving of recent credible inputs that such Apps pose threat to sovereignty and integrity of India, the Government of India has decided to disallow the usage of certain Apps, used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet enabled devices.”
Why Now?
Why should the Indian Government take action now? In my desire to find answer to this question, I came to realize that there is a recent heated dispute between China and India, and a clash between the troops of both nations left about 20 Indian soldiers dead and an unknown number of casualties from the Chinese side.
So, the Indian government cannot be overly criticized for placing a nation-wide ban on those Chinese apps. Yes, you heard it right, all 59 apps that were banned were apps from Chinese companies.
This is because, most of the user data collected by those apps are not stored in servers located in Indian and thus, the Indian government does not have control over who the app companies will share those data to.
Though, many of those application providers will tell you that they do not share your data with 3rd parties, the fact is, when compelled by the government of their respective country to share those data, many might cave in, for fear of not losing their license to operate.
What this Means for TikTok
Bad business.
Stats shows that there are over 800 active monthly users of the TikTok service globally. Out of those people, about 30% are Indians. That is about, a drop of 240 million monthly users for TikTok!
What TikTok Have to Say.
The head of TikTok India, Nikhil Gandhi said, while they are willing to comply with the interim that the Government of India placed on them, they will be meeting with the necessary stakeholders in the government of India to provide a response and clarification on their resolve.
He added: “TikTok continues to comply will all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law and has not shared any information of our users in India with any foreign government, including the Chinese Government. Further if we are requested to in the future we would not do so. We place the highest importance on user privacy and integrity.”
Banned Apps
Below is the full list of the 59 applications that were banned by the government of Indian.
- TikTok
- Shareit
- Kwai
- UC Browser
- Baidu map
- Shein
- Clash of Kings
- DU battery saver
- Helo
- Likee
- YouCam makeup
- Mi Community
- CM Browers
- Virus Cleaner
- APUS Browser
- ROMWE
- Club Factory
- Newsdog
- Beutry Plus
- UC News
- QQ Mail
- Xender
- QQ Music
- QQ Newsfeed
- Bigo Live
- SelfieCity
- Mail Master
- Parallel Space
- Mi Video Call – Xiaomi
- WeSync
- ES File Explorer
- Viva Video – QU Video Inc
- Meitu
- Vigo Video
- New Video Status
- DU Recorder
- Vault- Hide
- Cache Cleaner DU App studio
- DU Cleaner
- DU Browser
- Hago Play With New Friends
- Cam Scanner
- Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile
- Wonder Camera
- Photo Wonder
- QQ Player
- We Meet
- Sweet Selfie
- Baidu Translate
- Vmate
- QQ International
- QQ Security Center
- QQ Launcher
- U Video
- V fly Status Video
- Mobile Legends
- DU Privacy
Final Words
I know you love using this apps, your government also knows this. They did not place a ban on them because they want to punish you, on the contrary, it is because they love you and want to protect you.
Please, adhere to the laws and instructions from your government.
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