Government Bans 59 mobile apps which are
prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of
India, defence of India, security of state and
public order.
The Ministry of Information Technology,
invoking it’s power under section 69A of thei
Information Technology Act read with the relevant
provisions Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for
Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 and in view of the emergent nature
of threats has decided to block 59 apps since in
view of information available they are engaged
in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty
and integrity of India, defence of India, security
of state and public order.
Over the last few years, India has emerged
leading innovator when it comes to
as technological advancements and a primary
market in the digital space.
At the same time, there have been raging
concerns on aspects relating to data security
and safeguarding the privacy of 130 crore
Indians. It has been noted recently that such
concerns also pose a threat to sovereignty and
security of country.
our information Technology has received many
complaints from various sources including
several reports about misuse of some mobile
apps available on Android and iOS platforms for
stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’
data in an unauthorized manner to servers
which have locations 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 Indian Cyber Crime Coordination
Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs has also sent an exhaustive recommendation for blockingi
these malicious apps. This Ministry has also
received many representations raising concerns
from citizens regarding security of data and risk
to privacy relating to operation of certain apps.
The Computer Emergency Response Team
(CERT-IN) has representations from citizens regarding security of data and breach of privacy impacting upon
public order issues. Likewise, there have been
similar bipartisan concerns, flagged by various
public representatives, both outside and inside
the Parliament of India. There has been a strong
chorus in the public space to take strict action
against Apps that harm India’s sovereignty as
well as the privacy of our citizens.
On the basis of these and upon receiving of
recent credible inputs that such Apps pose
threat to sovereignty and integrity of India, the
Government of India has decided to disallow the
usage of certain Apps, used in both mobile and
non-mobile Internet enabled devices. These
apps are listed in the attached appendix.
This move will safeguard the interests of
crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This
decision is a targeted move to ensure safety
and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace.
