In a massive move that has sent shockwaves through the digital world, the Government of India on Monday evening officially "blocked" 59 popular Chinese-linked mobile applications. Leading the list is the viral short-video platform TikTok, along with other giants like UC Browser, WeChat, and CamScanner. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) stated that these apps were engaged in activities "prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India."
The government revealed that it had received numerous complaints and reports regarding the misuse of some mobile apps for "stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data" to servers located outside India. The IT Ministry emphasized that the mining and profiling of this data by elements hostile to national security is a matter of "deep and immediate concern" which required emergency measures under Section 69A of the IT Act.
The ban has left thousands of Indian content creators in a state of shock. For many, TikTok was not just an entertainment app but a primary source of income and fame. Within minutes of the announcement, the app disappeared from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Existing users are already reporting that their feeds have stopped refreshing, signaling the final curtain call for the app in India.
