The penultimate month of 2020 saw the Indian government blocking 43 new mobile applications, a significant proportion of which were Chinese. Among these barred apps was the popular shopping platform, AliExpress. This move takes the tally of banned Chinese apps in India to an imposing total of 220. Further understanding this action requires a look into the key laws employed, the reasons behind the ban, and its consequential implications.
Applying the Information Technology Act
The axing came under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s utilization of Section 69A of the Information Technology Act (IT Act), 2000. This provision was introduced as an amendment in 2008 and empowers the Central Government of India to restrict public access to online information, be it on websites or mobile applications. Under this Section, a website posing threats to India’s defense, its sovereignty and integrity, diplomatic relations with other nations, and public order can be banned provided due procedure is followed. These procedures are outlined under the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009.
Reasoning Behind The Ban
The actions taken against these applications were primarily driven by allegations regarding activities compromising the sovereignty and integrity of India, defense, the security of the state, and public order. Complaints about misuse of certain mobile applications present on Android and iOS platforms have been surging. These grievances report the unauthorized theft and transmission of user data to servers located outside India. Noteworthy is the comprehensive report against the misuse of these apps presented by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center, Ministry of Home Affairs.
Consequences of The Ban
This decision, rendered amidst escalating tension between India and China, emanates a clear message that India will no longer succumb to China’s Nibble and Negotiate policy. Further, the ban indicates a reevaluation of engagement norms with China. One of the dominant repercussions could be a potential diversion in China’s goal to establish itself as the digital superpower of the 21st century. The ban opens avenues for Indian entrepreneurs to rise swiftly to fill market gaps while supporting India’s self-reliance campaign, Atmanirbhar Bharat. As a part of this initiative, the government launched ‘Digital India Atmanirbhar Bharat Innovate Challenge,’ fostering Indian application developers and innovators and bolstering their ideas and products.
The Path Ahead
In today’s world, it is widely recognized that the next economic growth frontier lies within the digital economy. Considering data as a raw material, whoever builds the electronic backbone will enjoy significant advantages over others. In this light, India must accelerate indigenization, research, and development, and design a regulatory framework to assert data sovereignty.