Chinese apps have had a huge market in India. The major users of Chinese apps like TikTok, Helo, ShareIt, UC Browser, Shein, PUBG, Club Factory, etc. were Indians. So these apps’ major revenue was drawn from our country.
All that changed when the government of India banned Chinese apps and created new opportunities for Indian startups.
Why were Chinese Apps banned in India?
On June 29, 2020, the Indian government banned 59 popular Chinese mobile appsincluding widely used TikTok, ShareIt, WeChat, UC Browser among others; and followed that up by banning 47 more apps in July. So far, the government has banned a total of 224 apps having China links(appendix).
Chinese apps banned in India
According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the apps were engaged in activities that are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, the security of the state and public order. The apps were secretly stealing and transmitting user data in an unauthorized manner to servers located outside India.
The blocking order was issued under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. This massive app banning comes just days after Indian and Chinese troops were involved in a fresh face-off at the border.
India a major market for banned Chinese apps
India was a large and growing market for many of the Chinese apps banned in the country. TikTok, the most popular among them, had 16.4 million new installs in June 2020. Overall, the app has over 200 million active users in India, which amounts to almost 40% of its 500 million users worldwide.
TikTok’s sister app Helo, which caters to regional language audiences, also occupied a 50 million userbase in India.
Bigo Live, a live streaming app, and Likee, a video streaming app, are also very popular in India. Likee has run several engagement campaigns on its platform in association with leading Indian brands. In 2019, it partnered with Salman Khan Films to promote Dabangg 3.
Alibaba-owned UC browser has over 130 million active users in India. In fact, UC browser was the second leading mobile browser in India, with a 14.5% market share after Google Chrome, as of May 2020, and over 6.1 million new installs in June 2020 in India.
Chinese apps alternatives
Response of Indians after the ban
According to Indian press reports, local entrepreneurs and venture capitalists are welcoming the ban on Chinese apps, suggesting it could boost local companies, particularly those operating in the sectors of e-commerce, social media, and gaming sectors. Several business tycoons who experienced success, as well as failure in the Indian tech startup ecosystem, have spoken in the government’s decision’s favor. According to them, the ban will help the Indian businesses to establish better in the GDS alternatives to the Chinese apps which have been banned.
Vijay Shekhar Sharma, CEO and founder of Paytm, said that this could bring a “digital revolution” in India.
“Bold step in the national interest. A step towards Atmanirbhar App ecosystem. Time for the best Indian entrepreneurs to come forward and build the best by Indians, for Indians!”
Top 300 apps on Play Store in India Split
Opportunity for Indian Startups
The ban on Chinese apps, which had secured an enormous mass of Indian users over the years, provides India’s startups an opportunity to step up and conquer the market.
Most apps that have been banned have been successful in their local markets, and have used the consequent resources to expand in India. Their journey provides Indian startups a potential playbook, that if executed well, could place many of India’s apps on the global map.
The steps taken by the Indian government, such as announcing the ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliance) App Innovation Challenge, suggests that it has a strategy to make India digitally secure and independent.
While the ban has come in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, it will certainly pave the way for more homegrown startups to launch Indian equivalents of the banned apps.
This is a great opportunity to serve consumers with a great product. Speed of innovation and understanding of local consumer behavior will be critical for our companies to compete effectively with other offerings and this ban is like a marketing boost for Indian apps. The ban brings forth a plethora of opportunities and is in sync with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ revolution spoken about by the prime minister.
There is also a real ‘swadeshi’ (homegrown) sentiment among consumers right now” and that ensures local platforms have the opportunity and responsibility to serve India’s consumers.
While many Indian startups who have Chinese investors could face pressure, this is also an opportunity for local investors to take bigger bets on Indian startups. Such moments rarely come in a lifetime and players in the startup ecosystem must recognize the massive opportunity.
Indian tech platforms have the potential to go global
The idea of Indian apps stepping in to fill the vacuum and potentially going global is not far-fetched. This ban provides Indian app developers and entrepreneurs a chance to build a digital business by creating world-class solutions. It also provides existing players across social, messaging, utilities, and gaming categories to spread their wings farther.
Platforms such as Glance with more than 100 million daily active users, and Roposo with more than 75 million downloads, are already competing at scale with global players. Together, these account for nearly 40 percent of India’s smartphone population. Jio, with nearly 400 million subscribers, has 33 percent of India’s telecom subscribers. They might well become the largest tech businesses leading the Made In India narrative on the global platform.
Final Words
The ban on mainstream Chinese apps gives Indian tech startups a little longer runway to catch up and present compelling products that can appeal to users while respecting their privacy. While our Indian companies could benefit from this ban only if we can build attractive, reliable products that are part of a for-profit, pro-privacy IT ecosystem for humanity.
The government on 2nd September banned 118 applications- a majority of being Chinese, including popular ones such as PUBG, WeChat Work, CamCard, Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade and Alipay; stating that these were “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, security of State and public order.” This is in addition to banned Chinese 59 apps including TikTok, Shareit, club Factory, Shein in June to ensure safe cyberspace in the country. These banned chinese apps had over billions of potential Indian users and these apps were successful in luring the users to download them in large numbers.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity), said it was invoking its power under section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with the relevant provisions of the Information technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009, and in view of the emergent nature of threats has decided to block 118 mobile apps; engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.
It’s such a sheer loss to our country’s dignity and economy that all the while we are bragging and outraging against any service provided to us by China , we never lose to stay in their top 3 users.
The list of banned apps in India includes apps like PUBG, Baidu, AppLock, TikTok, ShareIt, WeChat, UC Browser and so on. A recent study reveals that India has been the world’s fastest-growing app-market over the past few years. Reports suggest that Chinese apps are ruling the Indian app market as users have downloaded them in significant numbers. However, Indian intelligence agencies asked government to block 118 mobile applications as being a threat to national security. India’s security agencies raised concerns that apps in the list of banned Chinese apps are safe.
Chinese apps banned in India released officially by Government on 29 June
As tensions at India and china border has to lead to another list of banned Chinese apps. India’s ministry of information and technology has issued 118 Chinese mobile apps to banned from the Indian market.
PUBG Banned In India
List Of Chinese Apps That Got Banned On 2nd September 2020
| 118 Chinese Apps That Got Banned on 2 September 2020 |
|— |— |— |—
| 1. Apus Launcher Pro-Theme, Live, Wallpapers, Smart |
|2. Apus Launcher-Theme, Call show, Wallpaper, Hide Apps |
|3. Apus Security-Antivirus, Phone Security, Cleaner |
|4. Apus Turbo Cleaner 2020-Junk Cleaner, Anti-virus|
|5. Apus Flashlights-Free & Bright|
|6. Cut Cut- Cut Out & Photo Background Editor|
|7. Baidu|
|8. Baidu Express Edition|
|9. FaceU- Inspire Your Beauty|
|10. ShareSave by Xiomi: Latest Gadgets, Amazing deals|
|11. Camcard- Business Card Reader|
|12. Camcard For SalesForce|
|13. Camcard Business|
|14. CamOCR|
|15. InNote|
|16. VooV Meeting- Tencent Video Conferencing|
|17. Super Clean- Master Of Cleaner, Phone Booster|
|18. WeChat Reading|
|19. Government WeChat|
|20. Small Q Brush|
|21. Tencent Weiyun|
|22. Pitu|
|23. WeChat Work|
|24. Cyber Hunter|
|25. Cyber Hunter Lite|
|26. Knives Out-No rules, Just Fight|
|27. Super Mecha Champions|
|28. LifeAfter|
|29. Dawn Of Isles|
|30. Ludo World-Ludo Superstar|
|31. Chess Rush|
|32. PUBG Mobile Nordic Map:Livik|
|33. PUBG Mobile Lite|
|34. Rise Of Kingdoms:Lost Crusade|
|35. Art Of Conquest: Dark Horizon|
|36. Dank Tanks|
|37. Warpath|
|38. Game Of Sultans|
|39. Gallery Vault: Hide Picture And Videos|
|40. Smart AppLock|
|41. Message Lock(SMS Lock)|
|42. Hide App-Hide Application Icon|
|43. AppLock|
|44. AppLock Lite|
|45. Dual Space- Multiple Accounts & App Cloner|
|46. ZAKZAK Pro- Live Chat & Video Chat Online|
|47. ZAKZAK LIVE: Live Chat & Video Chat|
|48. Music-Mp3 Player|
|49. Music Player- Audio Player & 10 Bands Equilizer|
|50. HD Camera Selfie Beauty Camera|
|51. Cleaner- Phone Booster|
|52. Web Browser & Fast Explorer|
|53. Video Player All Format For Android|
|54. Photo Gallery & Album|
|55. Photo Gallery HD & Editor|
|56. Music player- Bass Booster- free Download|
|57. HD Camera- Beauty Cam With Filters & Panorama|
|58.HD Camera Pro & Selfie Camera|
|59. Music Player- MP3 Player & 10 Bands Equilizer|
|60. Gallery HD|
|61. Web Browser- Fast, privacy & Light Web Explorer |
|62. Web Browser- Secure Explorer|
|63. Music Player- Audio Player|
|64. Video Player- All Format HD Video Player|
|65. Lamour Love All Over The World|
|66. Amour- Video Chat & Call All Over The World|
|67. MV Master- Make Your Status Video & Community|
|68. MV Master- Best Video Maker & Photo Video Editor|
|69. APUS Message Center-Intelligent Management|
|70. LivU Meet New People & Video Chat With Strangers|
|71. Carron Friends: Carrom Board & Pool Game|
|72. Ludo All Star- Play Online Ludo Game & Board Games|
|73. Bike Racing: Moto Traffic Rider Bike Racing Games|
|74. Rangers Of Oblivion: Online ACtion MMO RPG Game|
|75. GO SMS PRO- Messanger, Free Themes, Emoji|
|76. Z Camera- Photo Editor, Beauty Selfie, Collage|
|77. U-Dictionary: OXford Dictionary Freee Now Translate|
|78. Ulike- Define Your Selfie In Trendy Style|
|79. Tantan-Date For Real|
|80. MICO Chat: New Friends Banaen Aur Live Chat Karen|
|81. Kitty Live- Live Streaming & Video Live Chat|
|82. Malay Social Dating App to Date & Meet Singles|
|83. AliPay|
|84. AliPayHK|
|85. Mobile Taobao|
|86. Youku|
|87. Road Of Kings-Endless Glory|
|88. Sina News|
|89. Netease News|
|90. Penguin FM|
|91. Murderous Pursuits|
|92. Tencent Watchlist Tencent technology|
|93. Learn Chinese AI-Super Chinese|
|94. HUYA LIVE- Game Live Stream|
|95. Little Q Album|
|96. Fighting Landlors- Free and Happy Fighting Landlords|
|97. Hi Meitu|
|98. Mobile Legends: Pockets|
|99. VPN for TikTok|
|100. VPN For TikTok|
|101. penguin E-Sports Live Assistant|
|102. Buy cars- Offer Everything You Need, Special Offers And Low prices|
|103. iPick|
|104. Beauty Camera Plus- sweet Camera & Face Selfie|
|105. Parallel Space Lite- Dual App|
|106. Chief Almighty: First Thunder BC|
|107. MARVEL Super War NetEase Games|
|108. AFK Arena|
|109. Creative Destruction NetEase Games|
|110. Crusaders Of Light NetEase Games|
|111. Mafia City Yotta Games|
|112. Onmyojio NetEase Games|
|113. RideOut Heroes NetEase Games|
|114. Yimeng Jianghu-chu Liuxiang has been fully updated|
|115. Legend: Rising Empire NetEase Games|
|116. Arena Of Valor:5v5 Arena Games|
|117. Soul Hunnters|
|118. Rules Of Survival|
Chinese Apps banned in India
Most Popular Chinese Apps among the Top 100 in India
Social content platforms: Helo and SHARE it
Entertainment and short video apps: TikTok, LIKE, and Kwai
Web browser apps: UCBrowser and UCBrowserMini
Video and live streaming apps: LiveMe, Bigo Live, and VigoVideo
Utility applications: BeautyPlus, Xender and Cam Scanner
Gaming apps and software: PUBG, Clash of Kings, Mobile Legends
E-commerce applications: ClubFactory, Shein, and Romwe
Wednesday’s announcements comes amid renewed tensions between India and China owing to the stand-off on the disputed boundary in Ladakh that has beeen on since May 2020. In a statement, the government said this move would safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and Internet usera and teh decision was a targeted move to ensure safety, security and sovereignty of Indian Cyberspace.
By this, it’s crystal clear that China’s sole motive is to raise Beijing’s profile as a leading power of humanitarian assistance throughout the globe. China’s bilionaire diplomacy aims to achieve three immediate objectives:
shift the focus away from talking about the origin of corona virus in Wuhan
establish makeover
expanding their market in every possible way
become the biggest economy all over the world.
Chinese Banned Apps
For India, the pandemic presents an opportunity to demonstrate its willingness and capacity to shoulder more responsibility. It’s been a backlash that China is being criticised for their cheap winning tricks to conquer the world. It should be known that political impact of corona virus pandemic is yet to crystallize.
Since , the COVID-19 has been a great leveller across the world and we know that it’s effects stand to be devastating. Both countries , India and China , have sent their troops towards LAC (Line of Actual Control). The aggression seems to rise in it’s various form.
The Ministry said it had received many complaints about the misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorised manner to servers that have locations outside India. “The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of our country, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures,” it stated.
Additionally, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs, has sent an exhaustive recommendation for blocking these “malicious apps” and similar bipartisan concerns have been flagged by various public representatives, both outside and inside Indian Parliament.
Sonam Wangchuk Went #BOYCOTT-ing!
Sonam Wangchuk, whose works inspired “3 Idiots” , posted a video on You tube. It said that Indians should boycott everything which is from China to avenge the tensions between the two biggest economies.
Wangchuk believes that the only way to defeat China is by using “wallet power”. We all know that the Chinese products and goods that we buy have been funding their army since a very long time ago.It’s high time and we should boycott them and stop them there itself.
India Banned 118 Chinese Apps
Soon after Wangchuk’s video went viral, #BoycottChina, #BoycottMadeinChina, #BoycottChineseApps and #BoycottTiktok began trending on social media. Bollywood actor MilindSoman also joined the bandwagon and decided to uninstall Chinese app Tiktok from his phone.
Not just celebrities, but many Indians have taken the hatred all over the internet since the beginning of the pandemic. Several even wanted to take revenge against China for the same. In fact, many Indians have been searching on Google– “how to delete or remove Chinese apps” from their phones.
It’s funny how every hatred towards anyone is actually thrown away very casually by using a simple terminology boycott.We are left with only one solution. To boycott it. Boycott movies. Boycott apps. Why, even boycott human beings!
Every time, when something against national interest happens, we witness such outrages against some app and services.
The only reasons of bans and protests are:
origin
privacy concerns
Since 2018, TikTok happens to be one of the most popular apps in India even today, even after countless calls for bans. As a matter of fact, TikTok is a legit source of income for several Indians. I don’t know how embarrassing it is, but the employment sector of India is made fun of because so called ‘Youth of India‘ is busy making TikTok. We have taken a mere fight all over the internet which was TikTok vs. YouTube. Can anyone believe this !
If you were to scour through and delete all Chinese apps, your phone (assuming it isn’t made in China) would probably be left with only a handful of apps. but that’s how we can work more, and this can also genrate a source of income for youngsters who hav keen interest in this field. PM Modi asked out all the youngsters to create gaming applications in his recent ‘Mann Ki Baat’. Who would know that this was for banning majority of gaming Applications in the country.
Based on information collected by Indian intelligence agencies, the Indian government fears Following security risks and cyber espionage attempts. Chinese spies could collect critical information through malware and spyware in Android and iOS apps. The information is then sent to servers in China and could be used to get details on army location. Army troops, especially, border troops from the Indian Armed Force and Central Armed Police Personnel (CAPF) are asked to urgently uninstall them from their smart phones.
Also, devices made in China, such as Huawei and ZTE have already been banned from use by international border troops in the LAC region (Line of Actual Control). Its been noted that the ban does not apply in whole country due to obvious reasons.
Many Indian developers have been working to compete with the Chinese market of apps. App developers One Touch AppLabs launched an application – ‘Remove China Apps’ on May 17. As the name suggests, it’s work is same. When you download the app, you can run a scan through your phone. It will detect the Chinese apps on your phone and give you an option to delete them. If you click on the red bin icon next to the concerned app, it will uninstall the app from your phone. Several people have also shared screenshots on social media to show that they’ve used the app.
The app was at the top spot of Google Play’s top free apps list and it has been downloaded by over 5 million Indian users since its launch. This development came at a time when anti-China sentiment is high in the country, sparked by the novel corona virus pandemic, India-China border dispute, and more. But later the app was taken down from Google Play store a few weeks ago.
Another app playing on similar sentiments – Mitron – has also gained traction over the last several days and is being touted as an alternate to TikTok.
Since there is no immediate replacement of certain Chinese apps, one of the top leading industries of India, JIO has offered a wide range of apps too. Even if there are many alternatives , then also we are left with the only one to reply such aggression in a polite way.
Yash Taneja
