Govt to impose a permanent ban on some Chinese apps including TikTok

The government has sent notices to Chinese companies regarding the same

The government has sent notices to Chinese apps including TikTok and others, making the interim ban on these apps now permanent.

"We are evaluating the notice and will respond to it as appropriate. TikTok was among the first companies to comply with the Government of India directive issued on June 29, 2020. We continually strive to comply with local laws and regulations and do our best to address any concerns the government may have. Ensuring the privacy and security of all our users remains to be our topmost priority," said a TikTok spokesperson.

The government had earlier announced an interim ban on many Chinese apps including TikTok in the country to "safeguard the interests of millions of Indian mobile and internet users."

The crack down came amid tensions with China along the border in Eastern Ladakh. Other apps that were banned include, popular multiplayer game PUBG and search engine Baidu. Citing these apps as security threats, the government invoked its powers under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act and relevant provisions under IT Rules 2009 to block them.

TikTok had nearly 119 million active users in India and was among the top 10 apps on Google Play store and Apple App store.