Banning Chinese Apps To Respond To Galwan Clash? Experts Question Rationale Behind The Move

Indians on Tuesday, June 30, woke up to their phones with comparatively less 'China'.

The Ministry of Information Technology released a statement banning 59 Chinese mobile applications including popular ones like TikTok, WeChat, Helo and YouCam stating that the apps were engaged in activities detrimental to the integrity of India.

According to the statement, the Chinese apps were posing a threat to India's mechanism of self-governance by invading, potentially corrupting its cyberspace and so it was decided to disallow the usage of these apps in both mobile and non-mobile Internet-enabled devices.

The release further stated the government, to bring in effect its decision, invoked the power bestowed to it under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009.

The reasons cited by the central government to block such apps were breaching data security norms, stealing users data and parking it in an unauthorized manner to servers located outside India. The release stated that the Ministry received inputs from several authorities and representatives raised concerns on such malicious apps, pertaining to the security of data of 1.3 billion Indians.

What is the law that empowered the government to do so?

Section 69A of the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008, empowers the Central Government to block content on online platforms in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence.

Additionally, the law states that parties that fail to comply with the direction shall become liable to be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and would also be liable for fine.

Questioning The Digital Surgical Strike

Internet Freedom Foundation is the organization that has been instrumental in advocating online freedom, right to privacy, net neutrality, and innovation. Striving for online freedom in India, the organisation works on creating awareness regarding digital rights and liberties.

It took to social media to highlight the issues concerning the government's order communicating the app-ban.

In a series of tweets, it said that a legal order was not issued under the relevant sections and it lacked transparency and disclosure. It further added that all the 59 applications were blocked in a bundle, taking a common ground and reason which goes against the individualised nature of the blocking power under Section 69A and the Blocking Rules.

Apar Gupta, executive director, Internet Freedom Foundation, told The Quint that all the applications have been blocked without any kind of notice or an opportunity of hearing provided to them.

"While this can be done in certain emergency conditions, they still need to be provided a fair hearing," he said.

Medianama founder, Nikhil Pahwa terming it as 'India-China cyber faceoff said that the press release was unclear about how the decision would be implemented. He, however, asserted that it was a "political decision" and had been announced to send China a message.

Nikhil questioned the timing of such a decision. He said there was no change in the way these apps functioned over the past three months, which plainly meant no updates in the software, then if it was in the national interest, should have been taken a year ago.

"Big question: what does blocking mean? Does it mean that the apps (from the 59) you've downloaded will stop functioning? Or does it mean that apps will be blocked at an ISP level? Or will the app store and play store stop downloads? he tweeted.

He said that it was politically motivated since bans under Section 69A of the IT Act already provides the government with the power to block content, it does not need to announce such a ban.

Shashank Mohan, a tech-policy researcher at Delhi's National Law University Centre for Communication Governance, highlighted the issues regarding the execution of app-bans.

"App bans are notoriously hard to execute. Earlier when TikTok was banned, it was taken down from both app stores on the backing of a Madras HC order. Still people could download APKs from the web and access the app," he told the Times of India.

APKs are the unofficial versions of the apps still available on the web. He further said that the government in its communication did not explain how these apps threaten the sovereignty of the country.

A Welcome Move: Why?

Mumbai-based foreign policy thinktank, Gateway House's director Blaise Fernandes, in an interview with Business Insider, shared insights on why boycotting China on the technological and virtual sector would be better than boycotting physical goods which can significantly impact India's economy.

He categorised the Chinese application on the Indian cyberspace into four types. Apps with economic viability, vanity apps, apps with nuisance value and those used to push Chinese propaganda.

Apps with economic viability are significant to both the countries, vanity apps hold immense value to the Chinese economy while the other two, apps with nuisance value and those to push Chinese propaganda can be done away with.

"Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent are part of the digital 'Silk Route of China. Any disruption in the Indian market is going to have an impact on the valuations of these companies," said Fernandes.

Fernandes further added that if the disappearance of the vanity apps from the Indian market would not impact the daily lives of Indians. Citing the example of Tiktok, he said 30% of the app's users are Indian and 10% of its revenue is generated from India where the pros don't equate the cons and hence can be avoided.

Economic Times reported on the take that the Swadeshi apps have on the government's decision to ban the Chinese apps.

InMobi, the ad tech company that owns Roposo, a video app competing with TikTok, welcoming the decision said that it would open up the market for its platform to a larger audience.

Another rival to TikTok, Bolo Indya, said it will benefit from the ban on its larger rival.

"We welcome the decision as we resonate the concerns raised by the government. This is the opportunity for Bolo Indya and other Indian apps to deliver value, keeping Indian culture and data security at the highest priority," said its co-founder and CEO Varun Saxena.

"Govt banning Chinese apps is a great initiative to ensure privacy of Indian user data and to protect the country against the potential threat these apps pose to our national security," Piyush, founder & CEO of Rooter, a sports community app, told The Quint.

He contended that this step could prove to be "a golden moment in Indian startup journey" with Made in India apps getting a rare opportunity to onboard those users and provide them with the same services.

Also Read: "Never Compromised With Data Privacy, Security": TikTok Responds After Govt Bans App In India