New Delhi on Monday banned 54 Chinese origin apps, including Free Fire, Tencent Xriver, Nice Video Baidu, and Viva Video Editor, citing national security concerns.
Sources said that India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which issued interim directions for the block, alleged that the applications were collecting “sensitive user data” that was being misused and transmitted to servers “located in a hostile country.” The ministry also said that the apps were capable of carrying out espionage and surveillance activities via camera/microphone and accessing a user’s GPS location. In an official statement, the ministry added that “These apps were allegedly engaged in activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of the country also posing a serious threat to Security of the State and defence of India.”
Interestingly, Free Fire is Singapore-based and its developer is not from China. It was among the top most downloaded games in India last year. Other apps that form part of the latest ban include Beauty Camera: Sweet Selfie HD, Beauty Camera - Selfie Camera, Garena Free Fire – Illuminate, Astracraft, FancyU pro, MoonChat, Barcode Scanner - QR Code Scan, and Lica Cam.
The ban on Chinese apps is not unprecedented. Last year, India banned hundreds of Chinese apps including PUBG Mobile, Weibo, WeChat, AliExpress, and Shein. Similarly, in June 2020, New Delhi announced its decision to block 59 Chinese apps. The ban—which was headlined by Tik Tok, a China-based video-focused social networking service—was imposed in pursuance of information that indicated that the apps were being used for “activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order”.
Following the latest announcement, India has now banned a total of 321 China-linked apps over security concerns, with 59 apps banned on June 29, 2020, 47 on August 10, a further 118 on September 1, and another 49 on November 19.
India has banned Garena Free Fire and 53 Chinese apps. The government said these apps are prejudicial to India's sovereignity. Garena Free Fire, interestingly, is an app from a Singapore-based company.
— BurnerBits (@burner_bits) February 14, 2022
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first Pubg, now FreeFire what do you think about the ban? pic.twitter.com/9Mst3Qm4q3
In the same year, India also announced new laws changing the legal framework that determines the rules on bidding for government projects by companies and individuals from neighbouring countries. While the rules did not target any specific country, they were viewed as a measure taken to detrimentally affect Chinese entities in India. Moreover, the announcement was made amidst reports of China’s refusal to withdraw troops along the Line of Actual Control.
While Beijing is yet to comment on the latest ban, it has previously claimed that such decisions by India violate international law and abuse the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) security exceptions.
However, in order to avoid flouting international trade rules as per the WTO while continuing to reduce dependence on Chinese imports, India has attempted to impose “strict quality control and higher tariffs” on China and increase “inspections, product testing, and enhanced quality certification requirements.”
The latest decision comes amidst the two countries’ long-running border dispute remaining unsolved. Most recently, India announced its decision to boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics over China’s decision to include a People’s Liberation Army soldier in the torch relay at the opening ceremony. The regimental commander was involved in a violent brawl between Indian and Chinese soldiers in June 2020 in the Galwan Valley. During the incident, India reported that 20 of its soldiers had died as a result of the clashes, which instigated a diplomatic tiff between the two sides.
Although trade experts have predicted that moves such as these will impact the profitability and influence of China’s ‘Digital Silk Route,’ India-China trade ties remain mostly unaffected. Representatives of the automobile and pharmaceutical industry have already said that independence from Chinese markets is impossible to achieve. Last year, India’s exports to China grew to a record high of $28.1 billion, up 34.9% from $20.9 billion in 2020. Out of all of its trading partners, India holds the largest trade deficit with China.