The Indian government has banned 14 mobile apps after intelligence agencies reported that these apps were being used by terrorists in Kashmir to communicate with their supporters and spread terror propaganda. This move comes in compliance with Section 69A of the country’s IT law, which empowers the government to block access to any information that is considered a threat to national security.

indian banned apps
Credit: Reuters

The apps that were banned on May 1st do not have representatives in India, making it difficult to track down activities happening on the app. This move brings the total number of banned apps to 288, with the previous bans targeting apps with connections to China, which the government deemed prejudicial to India’s sovereignty and integrity.

The banned apps include popular messaging and chat applications such as IMO, Element, and Threema, as well as file-sharing and storage apps such as Mediafire. The ban also includes apps that offer end-to-end encryption, such as Enigma, Wickrme, and Crypviser, which are popular among privacy advocates.

List of 14 apps that are banned:

  • Crypviser
  • Enigma
  • Safeswiss
  • Wickrme
  • Mediafire
  • Briar
  • BChat
  • Nandbox
  • Conion
  • IMO
  • Element
  • Second line
  • Zangi
  • Threema

The government had previously banned 59 mobile apps in June 2020, 118 apps including PUBG Mobile in September 2020, 43 apps including AliExpress in November 2020, and 54 apps including Tencent-backed Garena’s Free Fire in February 2022. The bans on these apps were also made under Section 69A of the IT law, with the government citing national security concerns and threats to public order.

The ban on these apps is expected to be enforced soon, with Google and Apple notifying developers to remove them from their app stores. This move is part of the Indian government’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and preserve national security by regulating the use of mobile apps and other digital technologies.

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