The Indian government on Monday banned 47 Chinese apps, in addition to the previously banned 59 Chinese apps.
According to India Today, the 47 banned Chinese apps were operating as clones of earlier banned apps.
The list of the 47 Chinese applications banned by the government will be released soon.
These banned clones include Tiktok Lite, Helo Lite, SHAREit Lite, BIGO LIVE Lite and VFY Lite.
As per the report, India has also prepared a list of over 250 Chinese apps, including apps linked to Alibaba, that it will examine for any user privacy or national security violations. The list also include gaming app PUBG.
Today’s decision came after a high-profile ban of 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, as tensions continued in Ladakh after a violent face-off between the armies of India and China.
The government said these apps were engaged in activities that were prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity and defence of India.
A government press release announcing the ban stated, “The Ministry of Information Technology, invoking it’s power under section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 and in view of the emergent nature of threats has decided to block 59 apps since in view of information available they are engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order”.