India Announces Ban on 59 Chinese Apps, Including TikTok

ClubFactory, WeChat, ES File Explorer were among other prominent apps that were banned by the government.

Banned Chinese Apps

The government of India had decided to ban Chinese apps over security concerns.

Currently, TikTok has over 120 million active users in India, while most users are teens, and their early 20’s. Club factory has over 100 million users in India. CamScanner recently touched 100million users in India and UC Browser has over 130 million active users in India.

Union Minister of Communication, Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad said: “The move was taken to ensure the country’s integrity and protect data and privacy of Indians.

TikTok India released their statement of the app ban in India

The Government of India has issued an interim order for the blocking of 59 apps, including TikTok and we are in the process of complying with it. We have been invited to meet with the concerned government stakeholders for an opportunity to respond and submit clarifications. TikTok continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian Law and has not shared any information about our users in India with any foreign government, including the Chinese Government. Further, if we are requested to in the future we would not do so. We place the highest importance on user privacy and integrity.

“TikTok has democratized the internet by making it available in 14 Indian languages, with hundreds of millions of users, artists, storytellers, educators, and performers depending on it for their livelihood, many of whom are first-time internet users”, said Indian Head of TikTok, Nikhil Gandhi.

Statement from TikTok head, India

TikTok is not accessible in the playstore and currently is not available in India.

TikTok Bans

Here’s the complete list of the apps banned:

list of apps banned

1. TikTok
2. Shareit
3. Kwai
4. UC Browser
5. Baidu map
6. Shein
7. Clash of Kings
8. DU battery saver
9. Helo
10. Likee
11. YouCam makeup
12. Mi Community
13. CM Browers
14. Virus Cleaner
15. APUS Browser
16. ROMWE
17. Club Factory
18. Newsdog
19. Beauty Plus
20. WeChat
21. UC News
22. QQ Mail
23. Weibo
24. Xender
25. QQ Music
26. QQ Newsfeed
27. Bigo Live
28. SelfieCity
29. Mail Master
30. Parallel Space
31. Mi Video Call – Xiaomi
32. WeSync
33. ES File Explorer
34. Viva Video – QU Video Inc
35. Meitu
36. Vigo Video
37. New Video Status
38. DU Recorder
39. Vault- Hide
40. Cache Cleaner DU App studio
41. DU Cleaner
42. DU Browser
43. Hago Play With New Friends
44. Cam Scanner
45. Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile
46. Wonder Camera
47. Photo Wonder
48. QQ Player
49. We Meet
50. Sweet Selfie
51. Baidu Translate
52. Vmate
53. QQ International
54. QQ Security Center
55. QQ Launcher
56. U Video
57. V fly Status Video
58. Mobile Legends
59. DU Privacy