The Ministry of Information & Technology has imposed a ban on 118 more Chinese mobile applications including PUBG as a result of fresh tension over Chinese provocation in Ladakh, as per reports. The government said in a statement that the step is in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India and security. It also added this would safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users.
Government blocks 118 mobile apps which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, Defence of India, Security of State and Public Order: Govt of India
— ANI (@ANI) September 2, 2020
PUBG MOBILE Nordic Map: Livik, PUBG MOBILE LITE, WeChat Work & WeChat reading are among the banned mobile apps. pic.twitter.com/VWrg3WUnO8
The statement said it has received many complaints from various sources, including reports about the misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms, for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorised manner to servers located outside India.
"The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures," the statement said.
What You Should Know
- The Centre has banned 118 Chinese apps, including PUBG.
- The step is in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India and security, the government said.
- There are close to 33 million active PUBG players in India.
In June, the government of India had banned 59 Chinese apps, including the widely used TikTok, Shein, and CamScanner. The decision came after 20 Indian soldiers were martyred in Ladakh's Galwan Valley clash. This happened between June 15 and 16.
Indo-Chinese conflicts have been brewing in the territory all this month, over reported Chinese transgressions of the LAC that divides the two countries. The region is considered to be economically, politically, and strategically significant for both countries, each of which have their own conflicting drawings of the border. A few weeks after that, the government banned 47 more Chinese apps. These apps reportedly functioned as clones of the previously banned apps.
Chinese Internet services have around 300 million distinct users in India. This suggests that almost two-thirds of the country’s smartphone users have downloaded a Chinese app.
PUBG In India
According to reports, there are around 33 million active PUBG players in India. A branch of South Korean video game company Bluehole developed PlayerUnknown’s BattleGrounds, more commonly called PUBG. It was later that China’s multinational conglomerate, Tencent, took over as its distributor and later brought it to India.
Also Read : Sanya Khatri On What It’s Like Being A Woman PUBG Player In India