India blocked 47 more Chinese apps only weeks after banning the highly popular TikTok and 58 others video-sharing site over national security and privacy concerns, official information ministry and media reports said Monday.
Tensions between the two most populous nations in the world erupted last month following a clash at the Himalayan border that left 20 Indian troops dead and an unknown number of Chinese casualties.
“In this ongoing exercise, which illustrates the government’s seriousness about data privacy and security, we have banned 47 mobile apps from China,” the official, who asked to remain anonymous, told AFP.
“The order was issued on Friday. For the same reasons as the previous 59, most of these 47 apps are prohibited, and many were lite versions or variations of previously banned software.”
There was no official statement or order issued by the government on the ban but it was widely reported in major Indian media.
Anti-China sentiment has soared since the deadly fight in mid-June, which sparked street protests and calls for Chinese products to be banned in the nation of 1.3 billion people.
Local media on Monday said 275 other Chinese apps could also be on the chopping block over similar concerns, including the hugely popular “PUBG Mobile” game owned by tech giant Tencent.
From toys, cosmetics and handbags to home appliances, pharma, auto components, and steel, China exports more than 3,000 products to India.
