"Modi Govt Hits China: India to Block 119 Apps on Google Play Store"

The Indian government is moving to block 119 apps, many of which are video and voice chat platforms connected to developers from China and Hong Kong. According to data from the Lumen Database, a Harvard-run site that tracks government content removal requests, only 15 of these apps have been restricted in India so far, with the rest still available for download. Some of the impacted apps come from countries like Singapore, the US, the UK, and Australia.

The ban is being carried out under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which empowers the government to block online content if it poses a threat to national security, sovereignty, or public order. This law has been previously used to block numerous Chinese apps, particularly after tensions between India and China increased.

Three developers whose apps are affected by the ban told Moneycontrol that Google had notified them about the blocking order. These developers have expressed their willingness to cooperate with Indian authorities to resolve the issue.

Details about the blocking orders were initially revealed by Google on the Lumen Database on February 18, but the information was later removed. It remains unclear why the remaining apps have not yet been banned, with speculation that it may be due to technical or procedural delays.

When asked for further details, a government official declined to comment, stating that orders issued under Section 69A are confidential.

Moneycontrol has contacted 101 of the affected apps, as well as the IT Ministry and Google, for more information. Some developers have raised concerns about the lack of clarity regarding the reasons behind the ban.

One of the affected apps, ChillChat, developed by Singapore’s Mangostar Team, has over a million downloads and a 4.1-star rating on the Google Play Store. A spokesperson for the company confirmed that they were notified by Google about the potential restriction.

Blom, the developer behind ChangApp, a China-based app, also received a blocking order. In a response written in Chinese, Blom stated that Google has not provided any specific guidance about the ban.

Likewise, a spokesperson for HoneyCam, an app developed by Australia’s Shellin PTY Ltd, told Moneycontrol that they are committed to complying with India’s regulations, including the IT Act.

At present, only 15 of the 119 apps identified have been restricted in India. The timeline for blocking the remaining apps is still unclear, as Google’s disclosure did not specify when enforcement would occur.