India Bans Chinese Apps, Citing Data Privacy Issues

Source: Regulation Asia Editors, Regulation Asia 2020-07-01

India has banned 59 of China’s biggest mobile phone apps including TikTok and WeChat, saying they breach data privacy requirements and threaten the country’s security.

India on Monday (29 June) banned 59 of China’s biggest mobile phone apps, including TikTok and WeChat, on the grounds that they pose a threat to the country’s security, the FT reports.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said the apps collectively breach the privacy of Indian users by mining their data. “The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India [ . . . ] is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures.”

Apple said it was reviewing the situation but that it was likely to comply with any order to remove the apps from its App Store.

TikTok India said it continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law, affirming that it has not shared any information of Indian users with any foreign government. “Further if we are requested to in the future we would not do so.”

According to Reuters, China has responded saying the ban could be a breach of WTO (World Trade Organisation) rules and that it will impact Indian jobs, while urging for a fair and just business environment.

“India’s measure selectively and discriminatorily aims at certain Chinese apps on ambiguous and far-fetched grounds, runs against fair and transparent procedure requirements, abuses national security exceptions and (is suspected of) violating WTO rules,” Ji Rong, a spokesman at the Chinese embassy in New Delhi, said on Tuesday (30 June).

The ban is the first time that India has ordered the mass removal of foreign apps. It comes after the death of 20 Indian soldiers in a violent confrontation with Chinese soldiers in a disputed Himalayan border area earlier this month.

In April, India tightened foreign investment rules to block “opportunistic takeovers” by neighbouring countries, in rules that are said to be targetted at China specifically. India has also proposed restrictions on pension fund investments from foreign investors, introducing particularly onerous rules for China.

India Bans Chinese Apps, Citing Data Privacy Issues

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