Security concerns over Chinese apps have been raised in India time and again. Amidst the ongoing #BoycottChinaApps movement, Indian intelligence agencies have now listed 52 Chinese apps that the government should block or ask citizens to stop using.
Indian intelligence agencies have raised concerns that these apps aren’t safe as they are extracting large amounts of data from outside India. Hence, it has flagged those 52 China-linked apps as a threat to national security.
52 Chinese apps to be blocked
The complete list of 52 Chinese apps red-flagged by the intelligence agencies (according to Hindustan Times) includes some popular names such as TikTok, SHAREit, Xender, UC Browser, Parallel Space, WeChat, ClubFactory, Helo, SHEIN, etc.
The other names on the list are:
Vault-Hide, Vigo Video, Bigo Live, Weibo, UC News, BeautyPlus, LIKE, Kwai, ROMWE, NewsDog, Photo Wonder, APUS Browser, VivaVideo- QU Video Inc, Perfect Corp, CM Browser, Virus Cleaner (Hi Security Lab), Mi Community, DU recorder, YouCam Makeup, Mi Store, 360 Security, DU Battery Saver, DU Browser, DU Cleaner, DU Privacy, Clean Master – Cheetah, CacheClear DU apps studio, Baidu Translate, Baidu Map, Wonder Camera, ES File Explorer, QQ International, QQ Launcher, QQ Security Centre, QQ Player, QQ Music, QQ Mail, QQ NewsFeed, WeSync, SelfieCity, Clash of Kings, Mail Master, Mi Video call-Xiaomi
The report says intelligence officials have found evidence that the Android and iOS versions of the apps mentioned above could be used for spyware or other malicious purposes.
A couple of months ago, the Indian government had advised its officials to stop using Zoom over security concerns as the servers of the popular video conferencing software were based in China.
Recently an Indian app called Remove China Apps went viral because it scanned for Chinese apps on your smartphone and helped remove it. However, it was later removed from the Play Store itself for violating its deceptive behavior policy.
Boycott China?
Currently, all 52 apps are live on both the Play Store and App Store, so it is yet to be seen whether the Indian government will actually block these apps.
Given the user behavior so far, Indians have been using these apps despite the #BoycottChinaApps movement and will probably continue to do so as these apps are preferred by many.
What are your views on it? Do you use any of these apps? If yes, do you plan to continue using it? Please share your views in the comment box below!
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