Army personnel asked to delete 89 apps

Last updated on February 14th, 2023 at 11:45 am

This comes at the heels of a larger ban instituted across the whole country which banned 50 Chinese apps for security reasons.

ANI reported that with tensions simmering at the Line of Actual Control, army personnel have been asked to uninstall different kinds of apps, some of which don’t necessarily have a Chinese connection. Army sources were quoted as saying that apps like Facebook, Tinder, Instagram, PUBG and others have ordered removed from their smartphones.

The list, which includes previously banned ones like Tik Tok, Share Chat and True Caller also includes a range of other apps – messaging, content sharing, video hosting, utility, video and live streaming, gaming, dating, e-commerce, music, anti-virus, social media and other kinds of apps.

Some of the apps include We Chat, Viber, Hike, Samosa, ShareIt, Xender, UC Browser, Zoom, Uplive, True Caller, PUBG, Clash of Kings, OKCupid, Badoo, Bumble, Happn, Couch Surfing, Daily Hunt, News Dog, Songs.pk, Tumblr, Reddit and others.

Reportedly the Ministry of Information Technology received many complaints about the misuse of data by some apps – both on the Android and iOS platforms – which stealing information and sending it to servers outside the country, in a manner that is deemed illegal.

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This data can be compiled, mined and profiled by those with interests hostile to that of the security and defense of India, which impinges of the sovereignty and the integrity of the country, the statement said.