A day after the Union government banned 59 Chinese applications, including popular ones such as TikTok, Shareit, Mi Video Call, Club Factory and Cam Scanner, citing threat to national security and sovereignty, an Information Technology Ministry official said the banned platforms would be given a chance to submit their clarifications.
This is in line with provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009.
Following the ban, TikTok withdrew its app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store. In a statement on Tuesday, it said it had been invited to meet the authorities concerned and submit clarifications.
The company’s India head, Nikhil Gandhi, said it had complied with all Indian laws related to data privacy and had not shared information of any Indian user with foreign governments, including the Chinese. “The government has issued an interim order for the blocking of 59 apps, including TikTok, and we are in the process of complying with it.”
“We have been invited to meet with concerned government stakeholders for an opportunity to respond and submit clarifications,” he said.
While government sources said an order to remove all the banned apps was sent to both Google and Apple, industry sources confirmed that both companies received an order relating to removal of only TikTok as of Tuesday evening.
Helo, which along with TikTok is owned by China’s ByteDance, said it was working with the key stakeholders for an opportunity to respond and submit clarifications.
Experts h