The Government of India, on 2nd September 2020, banned 118 mobile applications that are linked to China. Chinese Apps ban includes the most popular game PUBG also. This move was termed to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the country, its defense, the security of the state, and public order. To bring about this ban, the government invoked Section 69 of the Information Technology Act. Among the apps included in the ban are WeChat Reading, Baidu, Baidu Express Edition, Ludo All Star, Alipay, PUBG mobile, and PUBG mobile Lite among others. Most of these apps are grouped as game apps, dating sites, online payment apps, and other software.
In the Chinese Apps Ban list, PUBG is the most popular, with over 40 million users every month and more than 13 million users in India. PUBG is a mobile gaming application that has been included in this nationwide ban by the IT ministry of India, alluding to concerns in cybersecurity. PUBG is also popular worldwide because it is ranked as one of the top five Smartphone games owing to its more than 734 million downloads globally. The 2020 series of PUBG Mobile India had an estimated prize pool of more than Rs 55 Lakh.
CHINESE APPS BAN LIST
| APUS Launcher Pro- Theme, Live Wallpapers, Smart | Tencent Weiyun | Message Lock (SMS Lock)-Gallery Vault Developer Team | Web Browser – Fast, Privacy & Light Web Explorer | Kitty Live – Live Streaming & Video Live Chat | Penguin E-sports Live assistant |
| APUS Launcher -Theme, Call Show, Wallpaper, HideApps | Pitu | Hide App-Hide Application Icon | Web Browser – Secure Explorer | Malay Social Dating App to Date & Meet Singles | Buy Cars-offer everything you need, special offers and low prices |
| APUS Security -Antivirus, Phone security, Cleaner | WeChat Work | AppLock | Music player – Audio Player | Alipay | iPick |
| APUS Turbo Cleaner 2020- Junk Cleaner, Anti-Virus | Cyber Hunter | AppLock Lite | Video Player – All Format HD Video Player | AlipayHK | Beauty Camera Plus – Sweet Camera & Face Selfie |
| APUS Flashlight-Free & Bright | Cyber Hunter Lite | Dual Space – Multiple Accounts & App Cloner | Lamour Love All Over The World | Mobile Taobao | Parallel Space Lite – Dual App |
| Cut Cut – Cut Out & Photo Background Editor | Knives Out-No rules, just fight! | ZAKZAK Pro – Live chat & video chat online | Amour- video chat & call all over the world | Youku | Chief Almighty: First Thunder BC |
| Baidu | Super Mecha Champions | ZAKZAK LIVE: live-streaming & video chat app | MV Master – Make Your Status Video & Community | Road of Kings- Endless Glory | MARVEL Super War NetEase Games |
| Baidu Express Edition | LifeAfter | Music – Mp3 Player | MV Master – Best Video Maker & Photo Video Editor | Sina News | AFK Arena |
| FaceU – Inspire your Beauty | Dawn of Isles | Music Player – Audio Player & 10 Bands Equalizer | APUS Message Center-Intelligent management | Netease News | Creative Destruction NetEase Games |
| ShareSave by Xiaomi: Latest gadgets, amazing deals | Ludo World-Ludo Superstar | HD Camera Selfie Beauty Camera | LivU Meet new people & Video chat with strangers | Penguin FM | Crusaders of Light NetEase Games |
| CamCard – Business Card Reader | Chess Rush | Cleaner – Phone Booster | Carrom Friends : Carrom Board & Pool Game | Murderous Pursuits | Mafia City Yotta Games |
| CamCard Business | PUBG MOBILE Nordic Map: Livik | Web Browser & Fast Explorer | Ludo All Star- Play Online Ludo Game & Board Games | Tencent Watchlist (Tencent Technology) | Onmyoji NetEase Games |
| CamCard for Salesforce | PUBG MOBILE LITE | Video Player All Format for Android | Bike Racing : Moto Traffic Rider Bike Racing Games | Learn Chinese AI-Super Chinese | Ride Out Heroes NetEase Games |
| CamOCR | Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade | Photo Gallery HD & Editor | Rangers Of Oblivion : Online Action MMO RPG Game | HUYA LIVE – Game Live Stream | Yimeng Jianghu-Chu Liuxiang has been fully upgraded |
| InNote | Art of Conquest: Dark Horizon | Photo Gallery & Album | Z Camera – Photo Editor, Beauty Selfie, Collage | Little Q Album | Legend: Rising Empire NetEase Games |
| VooV Meeting – Tencent Video Conferencing | Dank Tanks | Music Player – Bass Booster – Free Download | GO SMS Pro – Messenger, Free Themes, Emoji | Fighting Landlords – Free and happy Fighting Landlords | Arena of Valor: 5v5 Arena Games |
| Super Clean – Master of Cleaner, Phone Booster | Warpath | HD Camera – Beauty Cam with Filters & Panorama | U-Dictionary: Oxford Dictionary Free Now Translate | Hi Meitu | Soul Hunters |
| WeChat reading | Game of Sultans | HD Camera Pro & Selfie Camera | Ulike – Define your selfie in trendy style | Mobile Legends: Pocket | Rules of Survival |
| Government WeChat | Gallery Vault – Hide Pictures And Videos | Music Player – MP3 Player & 10 Bands Equalizer | Tantan – Date For Real | VPN for TikTok | |
| Small Q brush | Smart AppLock (App Protect) | Gallery HD | MICO Chat: New Friends Banaen aur Live Chat karen | VPN for TikTok |
The IT ministry, in its announcement, said that a lot of users in these applications had filed numerous complaints that their private data was not protected. The complaints further stated that some of these apps that are available in both iOS and android would steal user data, and their data would later be transmitted to servers that are not located in India. The ministry stated that their decision had taken into consideration the concerns of the public and how these apps were a threat to the sovereignty of India’s cyberspace and the privacy of its citizens. The ban would therefore protect millions of internet and mobile users in India.
This announcement comes after 59 applications linked to China, such as TikTok, were also banned in New Delhi. Tensions between India and China have been on the rise since June, when over 20 Indian soldiers were murdered in a military fight near the Himalayas. Since this clash, online users have been sending trending posts and threads to boycott Chinese products. The most popular hashtag was “Boycott China,” which trended on twitter. Masses have also been uploading videos of people destroying Smartphones and other gadgets and appliances that have been made in China.
