Govt blocks 43 more mobile apps, including AliExpress, Alipay Cashier and CamCard – The Hindu

The government on Tuesday said it had blocked 43 mobile applications, majorly including Chinese applications such as AliSuppliers, AliExpress, Alipay Cashier, CamCard and DingTalk, citing threat to national security, integrity and sovereignty.

Also read: Apps ban | China says India ‘abusing national security’, colluding with U.S.

“The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)… today issued an order under section 69A of the Information Technology Act blocking access to 43 mobile apps,” an official statement said.

It stated that the action was taken based on the inputs that these apps were engaging in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.

“MeitY has issued the order for blocking the access of these apps by users in India based on the comprehensive reports received from Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center, Ministry of Home Affairs,” it said.

The ban on the 43 applications is in addition to a total of 177 Chinese apps banned by the government till now. The MeitY first announced a ban on 59 such applications ranging from e-commerce to gaming, social media, browsers, instant messaging and file sharing, in June last amid tensions on the border between India and China.

Also read: Government bans PUBG, WeChat Work, 116 other mobile apps

In the second tranche, the government announced a ban on 118 popular games and applications WeChat Work, Baidu, PUBG, Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade and Alipay, in September.

The 43 application banned on Tuesday include e-commerce, social networking as well
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