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The government of India on 29 June banned 59 Chinese apps links for engaging in activities that are "prejudicial" to the "sovereignty and integrity" of the country. The list of banned apps includes some of the popular apps namely TikTok, ShareIt, UC Browser, Club Factory, and more.
The decision comes at a time of heightened border tensions between India and China. The ban was under discussion since early last month and the June 15 face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley hastened it.
GOI has said in the press release, The Ministry of Information Technology by invoking powers available to the government to direct an intermediary to block access to information from the public under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. the release also said that these apps are “prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, the security of the state and public order”. The release also said that the Ministry of Information Technology has received many complaints about some mobile applications “stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India”.
TikTok which is a short video-making app that is the most popular among the other banned apps has shown massive success in India over the last five years. India alone is counted for more than 600 million lifetime installs for TikTok. But it is also a Chinese social media app with serious concerns about its data collection policies and also an algorithm with no transparency and Chinese interests that could easily be used in a dangerous way.
But, just days after India banned Chinese apps China on Thursday threatened to go to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against the move. China has addressed the decision is the violation of WTO rules of fair trade practices and called it "selective and discriminatory"
However, if china approaches the WTO, by looking at the circumstances, it is unlikely to get relief in this matter. well, there are few reasons which favours India
Never had a bilateral agreement: there is no bilateral agreement between India and China with regard to smartphone apps. Chinese companies launched their applications in India not on the grounds that the two countries signed some kind of Bilateral agreement but since India is an in any case free market with access to all.
These apps promoted themselves making heavy investments in advertisements. Funds flowed out of China and content fabricating a superior picture of China was promoted through these applications.
These applications helped expel doubt for Chinese items from the brains of Indian youth. An equal development in the portion of Chinese product was found in the Indian market. This occurred with no proper understanding. India can't be blamed in the WTO for violating any commonly concurred law.
WTO rules are favorable for India: As per WTO laws, a nation is permitted to act against companies or products for being a threat to its sovereignty and national security interest.
In fact, India can build a counter case against China in the WTO for indulging in illegal and unfair trade practices. China has since quite a while ago directed its merchandise through a third nation - for instance, Singapore or Hong Kong - with whom India has had preferential trade agreements.
China does this to abstain from paying higher duties while dumping its products in India to be sold at lower prices than its competition. This trade malpractice has harmed the interests of the local manufacturer of India.
The Great ‘Fire-wall’ of China: China has for quite a while ago blocked foreign companies from entering its market on various pretexts. It has blocked tech giants and even news websites.
Applications like Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and similar apps which are part of the everyday lives of a large number of individuals across the globe are not known in China. By blocking these companies, China floated and succeeded in prospering its 'own' variants of these sites and applications.
Supported intensely by the Chinese government financially through disguised arms, Chinese social media apps began invading foreign markets. India, being the biggest market for Chinese companies and social-media platform, ended up to be an easily exploited profit-producing machine.
China has imposed restrictions on long-term visa and non-tariff barriers on investments, With regard to India. Even some of the newspapers are blocked in China.
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