New Delhi: After the Indian government issued a list of the Chinese apps to be banned, the popular video making platform TikTok and social networking app Helo came forward to comply with the ban on Tuesday.
Furthermore, they said that they will not be sharing any sort of data of the Indian users with the government of China. Both the apps have been downloaded millions of times on app stores.
The announcement regarding the ban of 59 Chinese applications came on Monday by the Indian government who took the step due to the rising tensions between the two nations.
It prohibited the use of apps including TikTok, SHAREit, Helo, UC Browser, Shein, WeChat and Xiaomi’s Mi Community citing national security concerns.
TikTok and Helo obliged to comply with the ban by ceasing all sharing of data with the Chinese government.
“The government of India has issued an interim order for the blocking of 59 apps, including TikTok and we are in the process of complying with it,” said Nikhil Gandhi, Head of TikTok India, adding that the company has been “invited to meet with concerned government stakeholders” for an opportunity to respond and submit clarifications.
“TikTok continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law and have not shared any information of our users in India with any foreign government, including the Chinese Government,” Gandhi explained.
IANS reported a representative of Helo saying that they are also amid the activity of complying with the Indian government’s order.
“We are working with the key stakeholders for an opportunity to respond and submit clarifications. Helo continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law,” the spokesperson added.
The mobile messaging app Helo is available in 14 languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam.
TikTok and Helo, both owned by Chinese tycoon companyByteDance, were removed from both Google Play Store and Apple App Store on Tuesday. There was no official communication from Google or Apple on the disappearance from their respective stores.
TikTok had nearly 119 million active users in India and one of the top 10 apps on Google Play store and Apple App store.
However, other banned apps like Alibaba Group’s UC Browser and UC News, Xiaomi’s Mi community, Tencent-owned WeChat, e-commerce platform Club Factory and document scanning app CamScanner dint get removed and were still available to be downloaded on the app stores.
Nevertheless, fans of TikTok and Helo, who still have the application on their devices can use them.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a list of 59 Chinese apps that are now banned in the country.
“There is credible information that these apps are engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order,” read a MeitY statement.
The move was taken after the ministry received several complaints from different sources, along with reports pertaining to misuse of some mobile apps. These apps, present on Android and iOS stores, were allegedly stealing and transferring users’ data through an illegal and unauthorised means. This was being transmitted to servers who’s location was traced to be outside India.
The MeitY said the ban will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile users.
Other Chinese apps in the banned list are Club Factory, CamScanner, Clean Master, Likee, Mi Video Call (Xiaomi), Weibo, Baidu, Bigo Live and many more.
The Galwan Valley clash which led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers deepened the rivalry between India and China, resulting in India breaking all its ties and making India free of China-made products and technologies.
