You’d think with the amount of trouble that the US Huawei ban is causing everyone, no one would think of pulling something like that again but perhaps India didn’t get the memo.
The Indian government has just announced that it is banning 59 Chinese developed apps in what they’re attributing to concerns that the apps are “engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, and security of state and public order”
I mean that’s just their official stance but this is basically a response to the ongoing tension going on between two of the biggest countries in the world, who also happen to share a border :’).
The move is sure to ruffle some feathers, seeing as India happens to be TikTok’s biggest market and you can almost hear all the Gen Z’s in India collectively sighing over the ban. What are they going to do for fun now, read a book? Madness.
“This move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace”
India’s Ministry of Electronics and IT
But hey, if your government is having a stand-off with the most populated country in the world you best get behind it, kids. You’d think that both countries have more to gain than from teaming up but efforts to deescalate tensions have taken longer than expected.
You can find the full list of apps that have been banned below
The most notable of these apps is TikTok, but other honourable mentions include Community and Video Call apps from Xiaomi, Mobile Legends, Bigo Live and Viva Video. At the time of writing, we’re still not exactly sure how this translates for makers of mobile operating systems and internet service providers.
A lot of Chinese companies actually count India as their biggest market, with smartphone brands such as Xiaomi and realme almost always seeing their phones sell out. Interestingly enough, China’s attention prior to this was more focused on its tensions with the US than with its neighbours.
Surely, this bombshell announcement will see that change. Whatever it is, both countries have more to gain from working together, given that both have two of the fastest growing economies in the world and regional stability is going to play a big part in it staying that way.
That being said, perhaps India have had enough and are taking a page out of Donald Trump’s book on how to deal with China. Strange move given that it’s not exactly worked out very well for him. Oh well, you live and learn I guess.
