New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government on Wednesday banned 118 Chinese-linked mobile applications, including two versions of the popular game PUBG, in a move that it said was needed to safeguard the interests of “crores of Indian mobile and Internet users”.A press release from the IT ministry does not use the word ‘China’, but merely says that these apps are “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, Defence of India, Security of State and Public Order”.The move comes just a couple of days after India said China had violated the border consensus reached between them during recent peace talks and that their troops had carried out “provocative military movements” to change the status quo in Ladakh.Most of the banned apps are either operated by Chinese companies and developers or have Chinese investment.Also read: Examining the Legal and Policy Process Behind India’s Ban on Chinese AppsThis is the third wave of bans that have been issued by the government. In July, the IT ministry banned 47 apps, which were clones or variants of 59 Chinese apps that had been earlier banned in June.In its press release on Wednesday, the IT ministry said it had received several complaints from various sources including reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms. The complaints alleged stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorised manner to servers which possibly had 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 statement said.“On the basis of these and upon receiving of recent credible inputs that information posted, permissions sought, functionality embedded as well as data harvesting practices of above stated Apps raise serious concerns that these Apps collect and share data in surreptitious manner…. In the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India and security of the State. And using the sovereign powers, the Government of India has decided to block the usage of certain Apps, used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet enabled devices.”The full list of blocked apps can be seen below:APUS Launcher Pro- Theme, Live Wallpapers, SmartAPUS Launcher -Theme, Call Show, Wallpaper, HideAppsAPUS Security -Antivirus, Phone security, CleanerAPUS Turbo Cleaner 2020- Junk Cleaner, Anti-VirusAPUS Flashlight-Free & BrightCut Cut – Cut Out & Photo Background EditorBaiduBaidu Express EditionFaceU – Inspire your BeautyShareSave by Xiaomi: Latest gadgets, amazing dealsCamCard – Business Card ReaderCamCard BusinessCamCard for SalesforceCamOCRInNoteVooV Meeting – Tencent Video ConferencingSuper Clean – Master of Cleaner, Phone BoosterWeChat readingGovernment WeChatSmall Q brushTencent WeiyunPituWeChat WorkCyber HunterCyber Hunter LiteKnives Out-No rules, just fight!Super Mecha ChampionsLifeAfterDawn of IslesLudo World-Ludo SuperstarChess RushPUBG MOBILE Nordic Map: LivikPUBG MOBILE LITERise of Kingdoms: Lost CrusadeArt of Conquest: Dark HorizonDank TanksWarpathGame of SultansGallery Vault – Hide Pictures And VideosSmart AppLock (App Protect)Message Lock (SMS Lock)-Gallery Vault Developer TeamHide App-Hide Application IconAppLockAppLock LiteDual Space – Multiple Accounts & App ClonerZAKZAK Pro – Live chat & video chat onlineZAKZAK LIVE: live-streaming & video chat appMusic – Mp3 PlayerMusic Player – Audio Player & 10 Bands EqualizerHD Camera Selfie Beauty CameraCleaner – Phone BoosterWeb Browser & Fast ExplorerVideo Player All Format for AndroidPhoto Gallery HD & EditorPhoto Gallery & AlbumMusic Player – Bass Booster – Free DownloadHD Camera – Beauty Cam with Filters & PanoramaHD Camera Pro & Selfie CameraMusic Player – MP3 Player & 10 Bands EqualizerGallery HDWeb Browser – Fast, Privacy & Light Web ExplorerWeb Browser – Secure ExplorerMusic player – Audio PlayerVideo Player – All Format HD Video PlayerLamour Love All Over The WorldAmour- video chat & call all over the world.MV Master – Make Your Status Video & CommunityMV Master – Best Video Maker & Photo Video EditorAPUS Message Center-Intelligent managementLivU Meet new people & Video chat with strangersCarrom Friends : Carrom Board & Pool Game-Ludo All Star- Play Online Ludo Game & Board GamesBike Racing : Moto Traffic Rider Bike Racing GamesRangers Of Oblivion : Online Action MMO RPG GameZ Camera – Photo Editor, Beauty Selfie, CollageGO SMS Pro – Messenger, Free Themes, EmojiU-Dictionary: Oxford Dictionary Free Now TranslateUlike – Define your selfie in trendy styleTantan – Date For RealMICO Chat: New Friends Banaen aur Live Chat karenKitty Live – Live Streaming & Video Live ChatMalay Social Dating App to Date & Meet SinglesAlipayAlipayHKMobile TaobaoYoukuRoad of Kings- Endless GlorySina NewsNetease NewsPenguin FMMurderous PursuitsTencent Watchlist (Tencent TechnologyLearn Chinese AI-Super ChineseHUYA LIVE – Game Live StreamLittle Q AlbumFighting Landlords – Free and happy Fighting LandlordsHi MeituMobile Legends: PocketVPN for TikTokVPN for TikTokPenguin E-sports Live assistantBuy Cars-offer everything you need, special offers and low pricesiPickBeauty Camera Plus – Sweet Camera & Face SelfieParallel Space Lite – Dual App“Chief Almighty: First Thunder BCMARVEL Super War NetEase GamesAFK ArenaCreative Destruction NetEase GamesCrusaders of Light NetEase GamesMafia City Yotta GamesOnmyoji NetEase GamesRide Out Heroes NetEase GamesYimeng Jianghu-Chu Liuxiang has been fully upgradedLegend: Rising Empire NetEase GamesArena of Valor: 5v5 Arena GamesSoul HuntersRules of Survival
