BAN ON CHINESE APPS: NEED AND IMPACT

INTRODUCTION

Recently on 29th of June that is on Monday, 59 Chinese apps got banned by the Indian
government. These apps include top social media apps such as TikTok, UC Browser, Shareit,
Cam Scanner, Club Factory, UC News, Shein and many more. India is a major market for
Chinese apps which are on banned list. 1 There are many reasons for the ban of Chinese apps in
India. Ban has affected Video Makers, fashion bloggers. It hurt many of Indians who were
making money and business connections through these apps. It also affected Indian traders 2 and
businessman. Further the ban has affected employment and livelihood in India. 3 Even though
there are many concerns about this, Indian government banned 59 apps to safeguard the
“sovereignty and security” of the country from the threats posed by these apps.4

NEEDS AND REASONS TO BAN CHINESE APPS

There are many reasons cited for the ban of 59 apps. There are 3 main reasons which made the
need to ban Chinese apps:

i. Amid the tensions between China and India at LAC and confrontation on June 15 which lead
to the death of twenty Indian soldiers, Prime Minister-Narendra Modi’s government on June
29 that is on Monday took a decision to ban 59 mobile apps of China which includes UC
Browser, Cam Scanner and TikTok among others.5 

ii. The central government claimed that these apps were stealing data and transferring data to
servers which are located outside India.6

1
Chinese apps banned: A look at the most popular ones, their business and reach in India, THE INDIAN
EXPRESS (Jul. 19, 2020), https://bit.ly/3jyuyH1
2
Venkat Ananth et al., India’s ban on Chinese apps: What’s next?, THE ECONOMIC TIMES (Jun.30, 2020),
https://bit.ly/39iYItm
3
China says India’s ban on 59 apps will affect employment and livelihoods, THE NEWS MINUTE (Jul. 01, 2020),
https://bit.ly/3eIjP9m
4
Romita Majumdar et al., Govt bans 59 Chinese apps on security concerns, including apps from Tik Tok, Xiaomi,
LIVE MINT (Jul. 19, 2020, 12:39 PM IST), https://bit.ly/2Bjf0WA
5
ZEE Media Bureau, Explained: What will be the impact of ban on Tik Tok and other Chinese apps, ZEE NEWS
(Jun.30, 2020, 10:26 AM IST), https://bit.ly/2CvkGNJ
6
Ivan Mehta, Here’s the list of all 59 Chinese apps banned by India, TNW (20 days ago in India),
https://bit.ly/2CqsAru
iii. The IT ministry said that the centre has banned 59 apps of China to safeguard Indian
cyberspace and to make sure that the safety, sovereignty, integrity, defense and public order
of India were protected. 7 The Ministry of Eloctronics and IT said that it had got complaints
from different sources8 which include reports about abuse by some mobile apps.9
iv. This is termed as Indian Digital War against China. If we look from a strategic view, it puts
huge economic pressure as these banned apps were heavily dependent on Indian markets.10
v. In Indian social apps, Investors are saying that the competition will reduce by the ban of
Chinese apps.11

IMPACT OF BAN IN INDIA

There will be a huge impact on India due to the ban on 59 Chinese apps by India. These include:
i. Tik Tok which was in the banned list was very popular in India and it has over 119 million
active users in India.12 Helo, Likee and Bigo Live apps are also popular in India as these apps
have access of availability in some of the local languages. These users will have to look for
substitutes now.13
ii. Data Privacy Issue Not Limited to Chinese Apps: MeitY banned apps on reports of stealing
and transmitting user’s data in an unofficial way to servers which are located outside India.
However, data privacy and data security problems are not only limited to Chinese apps.
Other apps such as Ask.FM App of US, Snapchat of US, Instagram of US, Whatsapp
Messenger of US, Tinder of US, Faceapp of Russia and many more

7
Ban on Chinese apps: How it may impact Tik Tok and other companies, TIMES OF INDIA (Jun. 30, 2020, 17:38
IST), https://bit.ly/2OCy0Cb
8
Romita Majumdar et al., Govt bans 59 Chinese apps on security concerns, including apps from Tik Tok, Xiaomi,
LIVE MINT (Jul. 19, 2020, 12:39 PM IST), https://bit.ly/2Bjf0WA
9
K. Bharat Kumar, The Hindu Explains|What will be the impact of Chinese apps ban?, THE HINDU (Jul. 05, 2020,
00:02 IST), https://bit.ly/3jBACyK
10
India bans 59 Chinese apps including Tik Tok, WeChat, Helo, THE ECONOMIC TIMES (Jul. 16, 2020, 01:16
PM IST), https://bit.ly/32MAqq8
11
India bans 59 Chinese apps including Tik Tok, WeChat, Helo, THE ECONOMIC TIMES (Jul. 16, 2020, 01:16
PM IST), https://bit.ly/32MAqq8
12
50 TikTok Stats That Will Blow Your Mind, Influencer MarketingHub (Jun. 24, 2020), https://bit.ly/39kJJ26
13
Nandagopal Rajan, Explained: How ban of TikTok and other Chinese apps will be enforced; the impact for Indian
users, The Indian Express (Jul.4, 2020, 10:07:03 am), https://bit.ly/3jqo8tB
iii. Further the ban has affected employment and livelihood in India. 14 It also affected Video
Makers. For many of whom this is the only source of income. TikTok is a livelihood for
some people like Rathod (who have 7 million followers within weeks)15.
iv. Shein, Club Factory and ROMWE are the online shopping apps which are on the banned list.
Ban on these apps affected fashion bloggers16and now they have to shift and try other online
shopping sites
v. The ban has also affected meme creators who majorly depend on the Indian Content Makers.
vi. It hurt many of Indians who were making money and business connections through these
apps.17 In India, many of these banned apps have offices and employees and now the ban on
these apps may lead to the stake to few thousand jobs. It also affected Indian traders18 and
businessman.
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS

In conclusion, on the whole there are impacts on the ban of Chinese apps in India. At the same
time there is also need to central government to ban such apps which were stealing data and
transferring data to servers which are located outside India. The move taken was correct in order
to safeguard the sovereignty and security of the country. Even though this decision was correct,
there are many consequences which are going to take place by the ban of Chinese apps. So,
alternative measures should be taken. If we consider video makers, for some of them it is the
only source of livelihood in pandemic. Now, they should be provided with substitute apps which
should be equal with TikTok and other short video making apps. In India, many of these banned
apps have offices and employees and now the ban on these apps may lead to the stake to few
thousand jobs. So, these employees should be provided with alternative to lead their livelihoods.
Traders and businessmen should also be provided with substitutes to live their life better.

NAME OF THE AUTHORS: CHIDIGE SAI VARNITHA

14
China says India’s ban on 59 apps will affect employment and livelihoods, THE NEWS MINUTE (Jul. 01, 2020),
https://bit.ly/3eIjP9m
15
‘Tik Tok Changed My Life’: India’s Ban On Chinese App Leaves Video Makers Stunned, npr (Jul. 16, 2020),
https://n.pr/2WPfg75
16
Tasneem Akolawala, Shein, Club Factory, Chinese Apps Ban: For Fashion Bloggers What Comes Next?,
GADGETS 360 (Jul. 01, 2020), https://bit.ly/3fJVmSw
17
Ban on Chinese apps, including TikTok, surprises India content makers, BBC (Jun. 30, 2020),
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-53232486
18
Venkat Ananth et al., India’s ban on Chinese apps: What’s next?, THE ECONOMIC TIMES (Jun.30, 2020),
https://bit.ly/39iYItm
CO- AUTHOR: CHIDIGE SAI VARSHITHA

NAME OF THE INSTITUTION: DAMODARAM SANJEEVAYYA NATIONAL LAW

UNIVERSITY.