18 June 2020, New Delhi
Indian intelligence agencies have suggested the government of India to either block or ask people to stop the use of some 52 mobile applications linked to China.
The suggestion comes over concerns that these mobile applications weren’t safe.
The list sent by the Intel agencies to the government include video conferencing app Zoom, short-video app TikTok, among others such as Xender, UC browser, SHAREit and Clean-master.
Reports said that the recommendation of the intelligence agencies had been supported by the National Security Council Secretariat.
According to reports, discussions on the recommendations are continuing saying that the risks attached to each mobile app will be examined one by one.
It should be noted that India’s Home Ministry in April this year had issued an advisory on use of Zoom on the recommendation of the Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-in).
Taiwan has already banned its government agencies from using Zoom. Likewise, German Foreign Ministry has restricted the use of Zoom to emergency situations on personal computers. Similarly, the United States Senate has advised members to use other platforms.
Companies like the popular video-sharing app TikTok, which is operated by Chinese internet company ByteDance, have issued denials.
There are reports that security agencies had also advised the security personnel from using these apps considering the ‘detrimental impact’ that this could have on the data security.
The applications include:
TikTok, Vigo Video, Vault-Hide, Weibo, WeChat, SHAREit, Bigo Live, UC Browser
UC News, Xender, BeautyPlus, Helo, ClubFactory, ROMWE, LIKE Kwai, NewsDog, SHEIN, Photo Wonder, APUS Browser, Perfect Corp, VivaVideo- QU Video Inc, Virus Cleaner (Hi Security Lab), Mi Community, CM Browser, DU recorder, YouCam Makeup, 360 Security, Mi Store, DU Battery Saver, DU Browser
DU Cleaner, DU Privacy, Clean Master – Cheetah, CacheClear DU apps studio, Baidu Translate, Baidu Map, Wonder Camera, ES File Explorer, QQ International
QQ Launcher, QQ Security Centre, QQ Player, QQ Music, QQ Mail, QQ NewsFeed, WeSync, SelfieCity, Mail Master, Clash of Kings, Parallel Space, Mi Video call-Xiaomi.
(With inputs from Agencies)
