India hasn't finished banning Chinese apps. The second largest internet marketplace in the world, which has banned more than 175 apps with links to the neighboring nation in recent months, said on Tuesday it is banning 43 more such apps.
As with previous orders, India has cited cybersecurity issues to block these apps. "This action was taken based on inputs related to these apps to engage in activities that are detrimental to India's sovereignty and integrity, defense of India, state security and public order," he said. India's IT ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said it had issued an order to block these apps "based on full reports received from the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Center, Ministry of Internal Affairs."
Apps that have been banned include the popular Snack Video short video service, which has climbed to the top of the chart in recent months, as well as the AliExpress e-commerce app, the Lalamove delivery app, and the Lalamove delivery app. Taobao Live shopping. Full list here. At this point, there doesn't seem to be any Chinese apps left among the top 500 apps used in India.
The Tuesday order comes as a handful of apps including PUBG Mobile and TikTok, both identified by India as their largest overseas market, they are exploring ways to make a return to the country. In recent weeks, PUBG has registered a local entity in India, partnered with Microsoft for its IT needs, and publicly promised to invest $ 100 million in the country. He has yet to hear from the government, people familiar with the matter told ProWellTech.
Tensions between the world's two most populous nations escalated after more than 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a military confrontation in the Himalayas in June. Since then, the sentiment of "Boycotting China" has become a trend on social media in India as more and more people post videos demonstrating the destruction of Chinese-made smartphones, TVs and other products.
In April, India also made a change to its foreign investment policy that requires Chinese investors - who have invested billions of dollars in Indian startups in recent years - to get approval from New Delhi before they can write new checks. to Indian companies. The move significantly reduced the presence of Chinese investors in Indian startup deal flows in the following months.
