The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) took the decision under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which empowers the government to restrict public access to online content that could compromise national security or public order
India has recently imposed a ban on 119 mobile applications, many of which originate from Chinese and Hong Kong-based developers, as part of its ongoing efforts to bolster national security. This decision follows similar crackdowns in previous years, aimed at safeguarding the country’s cyberspace from potential threats.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) took the decision under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which empowers the government to restrict public access to online content that could compromise national security or public order. This legal provision has been previously used to ban apps like TikTok and ShareIt in 2020, with further rounds of restrictions in 2021 and 2022.
While the majority of the blocked apps remain available for download, only 15 applications have been removed from the Google Play Store so far, according to a report by MoneyControl. The report, which was originally available on the Lumen Database managed by Harvard University, has since been taken down. The timeline for the complete implementation of the ban is yet to be clarified.
Among the targeted apps, ChillChat by Singapore-based Mangostar Team stands out with over one million downloads and a 4.1-star rating on the Google Play Store. Other affected applications include ChangApp from China-based Blom and HoneyCam by Australian company Shellin PTY Ltd, which features both automated content filtering and manual oversight.
Despite the significant disruption the ban is expected to cause, MeitY has not disclosed specific security risks associated with the listed applications. Developers behind these platforms, including ChillChat, have acknowledged receiving notifications from Google and expressed their willingness to cooperate with Indian authorities to address any concerns.
The ban is likely to impact a large number of Indian users who rely on these apps for daily communication and entertainment. This latest action highlights the Indian government’s continued focus on digital security and sovereignty, underscoring the broader strategy of mitigating potential risks arising from foreign tech applications.
While the exact implications of the ban remain uncertain, the move signals India’s commitment to protecting its digital landscape in an era of increasing cybersecurity threats.
