Theta Android News: India bans 60 Chinese apps, including TikTok, but enforcement of ban unclear

Monday, June 29, 2020

India bans 60 Chinese apps, including TikTok, but enforcement of ban unclear

Tiktok stock photo on smartphone

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

India has officially instituted a Chinese app ban which specifically targets 60 applications.
Among the apps is the insanely popular TikTok as well as some other favorites of Android users.
India hasn't given any indication for how it will enforce this ban, though, making it largely symbolic for now.

Today, the Indian government officially instituted a Chinese app ban which bans 60 apps. Some of the apps are relatively unknown but a few of them are incredibly popular, including the worldwide phenomenon TikTok.

We learned the news via Twitter, but we had heard rumblings of a Chinese app ban in the country as early as two weeks ago.

In a statement on the matter, the Ministry of Electronics & IT says the apps in question are "engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order." You can see the full statement in images below as well as the tweet where we found the info:

BIG BREAKING: Indian Govt bans 59 Chinese apps, including Tik-Tok. Full list: pic.twitter.com/QR1dpRPln5

— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) June 29, 2020

There are exactly 60 applications part of the Chinese app ban, most of which we were sure would appear on the official list, However, there are a few we didn't expect.

India Chinese app ban: The official list

TikTok
Mi Community
Weibo
WeChat
SHAREit
Clash of Kings
DU recorder
YouCam Makeup
DU Battery Saver
DU Browser
DU Cleaner
DU Privacy
DU Recorder
Clean Master – Cheetah
Cache Cleaner
DU Apps Studio
Baidu Translate
Baidu Map
QQ Launcher
QQ Security Centre
QQ Player
QQ Music
QQ Mail
QQ NewsFeed
WeSync
QQ International
New Video Status
V Fly Status Video
Mobile Legends
Vmate

ES File Explorer
Mi Video call-Xiaomi
Parallel Space
SelfieCity
Mail Master
Vault-Hide
Vigo Video
Bigo Live
UC News
UC Browser
BeautyPlus
Xender
ClubFactory
Helo
LIKEE
Kwai
ROMWE
SHEIN
NewsDog
Wonder Camera
Photo Wonder
APUS Browser
VivaVideo- QU Video Inc
CM Browser
Virus Cleaner (Hi Security Lab)
Meitu
Hago Play With New Friends
Cam Scanner
We Meet
Sweet Selfie

Unfortunately, although the statement makes it clear which apps are part of this Chinese app ban, it doesn't at all make clear how India will enforce this new policy. As far as we can tell, all the apps above are still available on the Google Play Store and will continue to work on people's phones who already have them downloaded.

In addition, some of the apps above are stock apps that come with devices, specifically the Xiaomi-branded apps. It would be difficult to remove stock apps like these, even with a Play Store removal, so would that make the phone itself banned, too?

It's very possible this is just a symbolic ban, but we have reached out to Google to find out if the company has any plans for following this new Chinese app ban for India. We will let you know if the company gets back to us with a statement.

In the meantime, if you are in India and use one of the apps above you are technically violating the ban — but, without any listed repercussions for doing so, we don't know how serious of a "crime" that is.