Banned Chinese Apps Approach Centre To Clarify Position

SUMMARY

TikTok and Club Factory said that they were adhering to Indian data laws

Government sources said banned apps will be given chance to explain their case

Most of the banned Chinese apps yet to be removed from Google and Apple

Mobile applications TikTok and ClubFactory, among the 59 Chinese apps banned by the centre on June 29, will approach the government to clarify their position while maintaining that they were functioning in adherence to Indian data laws and regulations.

A senior government official confirmed the news to Mint, saying that the companies will be given a chance to clarify their position, according to the provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act.

“The companies will be given a fair opportunity and have been asked to explain their case,” the government official said.

The official added that the order passed on Monday, banning 59 Chinese apps on grounds of national security, was an interim order. The process entailed for blocking of apps in the IT Act will be followed and, “a government committee will look into it and will pass a more detailed order.”

Banned Apps Yet To Be Removed From Google, Apple App Stores

Meanwhile, among the banned Chinese apps, TikTok and Helo had disappeared from Google and Apple App Stores in India on Tuesday, pending government directives and a detailed legal order for the removal of Chinese apps. This could have happened if the apps delisted themselves voluntarily. On Wednesday, TikTok was again visible on the Google Play Store. Other apps, also in the list of banned Chinese apps, such as UC Browser, WeChat and Club Factory are also yet to be removed.

On Monday, hours after the government banned 59 Chinese apps, TikTok India’s head Nikhil Gandhi had said that the company was in the process of complying with the order.

In a tweet posted on TikTok India’s official Twitter handle, Gandhi wrote: “TikTok continues to comply with 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.”

The move to ban Chinese apps came in the wake of growing anti-China sentiment in the country after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in action during border clashes between the two countries on June 15 and 16 in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley.