Earlier in June, the Centre had blocked 59 apps which had links to China, including Tik Tok, cam scanner, etc. because of security reasons. The big move was made following the Indo-China tensions at the Galwan valley in Ladakh.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on Wednesday blocked 118 mobile apps, including the gaming app PUBG citing threat to security of state.
To do this, the power under section 69 of the Information Technology ct, 2000, was invoked in the interests of sovereignty and integrity of India, to keep up the defense of India, security of the state and public order invoking section 69 Information Technology Act.
A press released by the Ministry stated that it has received several complaints about these apps for “stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to server outside India”. It is believed that this big move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety, security and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace”,
On the basis that these apps collect and share data in surreptitious manner and compromise personal data and information of users that can have a severe threat to security of the state, it was raising concerns at the higher level of intelligence.
In the interest and integrity of the state, and by using sovereign powers the government of India has decided to block the usage of certain apps used in both mobile and non-mobile internet-enabled devices.
