Government bans 14 terror-linked apps
In the latest instance of banning apps, the government of India has banned 14 messenger apps which were being used by Jammu and Kashmir-based terrorist groups. Unlike the earlier apps banned, since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020, these are not all Chinese apps.
Fourteen messenger mobile applications have been banned by the government of India after it was found that they were being used as communication tools by terrorists between Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir.
Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 was invoked to block the apps in India.
A common feature of the apps is their ability to maintain the anonymity of their users, making them invaluable for the subversive elements.
The 14 are (in alphabetical order) BChat, Briar, Conion, Crypviser, Element, Enigma, IMO, Mediafire, Nandbox, SafeSwiss, Second Line, Threema, Wickr Me and Zangi.
In total, around 250 Chinese apps have been banned since June 2020, when a clash between Chinese and Indian troops took place in Galwan Valley in Ladakh, including popular ones such as TikTok, Shareit, WeChat, Helo, Likee, UC News, Bigo Live, UC Browser, Xender, Camscanner, PUBG Mobile and Garena Free Fire.
