The Union government announced a ban on 43 Chinese apps on Tuesday evening, the latest in a series of measures taken since the Sino-Indian conflict in Ladakh in June led relations between the two countries to head south. Apps banned in this round include MangoTV, AliExpress, WeTV and SnackVideo.
The order was issued by the ministry of electronics and information technology under section 69A of the IT Act. As per an official statement issued by the government, the ban was because these apps were “engaging in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order”.
A good majority of the apps in this round are dating and sex chat apps, including those which offering online hook-ups, dates over video streaming, lesbian socialising and gay chats. Blocking access for Indian users to these 43 apps was decided based on comprehensive reports from home ministry’s Cyber Crime Co-ordination Centre, according to official sources.
India’s ‘app-for-tat’ policy has seen several rounds of ban since the clashes on the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh on June 15. The first round saw 59 apps being banned the same month, with another round in September seeing 118 more apps facing govt action.
The most high-profile of these, of course, was TikTok, the popular short video platform, as well as the gaming app PUBG. Interestingly, both these apps were looking for ways to get their ban revoked and re-enter the Indian market. PUBG, originally a Korean firm, had come under the guillotine only because it was being marketed in India by the Chinese tech gian Tencent. The Indian ban saw Tencent giving up PUBG rights for India, and hopes were that this would satisfy the authorities enough to warrant a return.
The 43 apps that have been banned now are:
AliSuppliers Mobile App
Alibaba Workbench
AliExpress - Smarter Shopping, Better Living
Alipay Cashier
Lalamove India - Delivery App
Drive with Lalamove India
Snack Video
CamCard - Business Card Reader
CamCard - BCR (Western)
Soul- Follow the soul to find you
Chinese Social - Free Online Dating Video App & Chat
Date in Asia - Dating & Chat For Asian Singles
WeDate-Dating App
Free dating app-Singol, start your date!
Adore App
TrulyChinese - Chinese Dating App
TrulyAsian - Asian Dating App
ChinaLove: dating app for Chinese singles
DateMyAge: Chat, Meet, Date Mature Singles Online
AsianDate: find Asian singles
FlirtWish: chat with singles
Guys Only Dating: Gay Chat
Tubit: Live Streams
WeWorkChina
First Love Live- super hot live beauties live online
Rela - Lesbian Social Network
Cashier Wallet
MangoTV
MGTV-HunanTV official TV APP
WeTV - TV version
WeTV - Cdrama, Kdrama&More
WeTV Lite
Lucky Live-Live Video Streaming App
Taobao Live
DingTalk
Identity V
Isoland 2: Ashes of Time
BoxStar (Early Access)
Heroes Evolved
Happy Fish
Jellipop Match-Decorate your dream island！
Munchkin Match: magic home building
Conquista Online II