Security News > 2020 > September > India Blocks High-Profile Chinese Apps on Political, Privacy Concerns

India has blocked 118 more mobile apps in its continued crackdown on the use mobile apps from China, citing concerns that they transmit user data out of the country and threaten its "Sovereignty and integrity" as political tensions between the two countries rise.

The ministry said it "Has received many complaints from various sources including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users' data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India," according to a statement, which includes the full list of the newly banned apps.

The move comes not long after India began banning Chinese apps due to political concerns after soldiers on the border between two countries clashed in June, resulting in the death of 20 Indian soldiers.

UC Browser, Weibo and WeChat also were among the Chinese mobile apps that India banned in June.

Mobile apps have become a new political battleground for nations due to their data-collection and cyberespionage capabilities, facing more scrutiny than ever from world governments, privacy advocates, and the companies that sell and market mobile apps.

News URL

https://threatpost.com/india-blocks-high-profile-chinese-apps-on-political-privacy-concerns/158959/