India orders blocking of 119 apps on Google Play Store, majority from China and Hong Kong

In 2020, India banned a host of Chinese apps such as Tiktok, Shareit and so on

As many as 119 apps available in India, mostly video and voice chat platforms linked to developers in China and Hong Kong can be blocked, according to data disclosed by Google on the Lumen Database, a Harvard University-operated site tracking content removal requests by governments and other entities.

Of the 119 apps, only 15 have been withheld in India so far, Moneycontrol has found. The rest remain available for download as of February 20. A smaller number of affected apps also originate from Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, a Moneycontrol analysis has found.

It is understood that the directives have been issued under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. The section grants Centre the powers to block public access to online content in the interest of national security, sovereignty, or public order.

Previous orders under this section had targetted Chinese apps, particularly in the aftermath of the geopolitical tensions between India and China.

Three app developers affected by the blocking order told Moneycontrol that they were intimated of the action by Google, and that they are keen to work with the Indian government to resolve the issue.

Details of MeitY’s orders surfaced through a recent disclosure by Google on the Lumen Database, which tracks content removal requests made by governments and other entities. The disclosure was published on Lumen on February 18, however, the listing now stands deleted.

Google’s disclosure does not say if the delay in enforcing the ban on remaining apps is due to technical or procedural reasons.

A government official, when approached for comment, declined to share details, and stated that orders passed under Section 69A are confidential.

In response to Moneycontrol's queries a Google spokesperson, said, “We have clear policies for removal requests from governments around the world. We review government removal requests when notified through the correct legal processes, and also review content for violations of our Platform Policies. And, where appropriate, we restrict or remove apps in keeping with local laws. All of these requests are tracked and included in our Transparency Report."

Moneycontrol has reached out to 101 of the affected apps, along with the IT Ministry seeking further comments, and the article will be updated when a response is received.

Awaiting More Clarity

Some of the app developers affected by the blocking order, while responding to Moneycontrol's queries expressed concern over the lack of clarity from authorities regarding the specific reasons for the action.

ChillChat, an app developed by Singapore-based Mangostar Team has over 1 million downloads on Google Play Store with 4.1 rating out of five. A spokesperson confirmed that Google informed them about the potential blocking of their app.

"A blocking order would have a significant impact not only on us as developers but also on our users in India. Our platform provides video chat and gaming experiences, which are integral to many of our users’ daily interactions. A disruption in service would affect the experience of users who rely on the app for communication and entertainment. This could result in a loss of trust in our service, which we have worked hard to establish in the Indian market," said the spokesperson.

"We are currently seeking clarification on the specific concerns raised by MeitY and are committed to resolving any compliance issues promptly. We are working closely with our legal team and other relevant parties to ensure that we comply with all necessary regulations while maintaining our service for users," Mangostar’s spokesperson added.

Business Impact

Blom, the developer of China-based ChangApp was too served the blocking order. In a response over email originally sent in Chinese, Blom said that Google has not provided any guidance over the blocking order.

"This change could have a huge impact on our business, not only hindering new user growth, but also seriously impacting the user experience of existing users. In the long run, it could cause incalculable damage to our team and our years of accumulation," said Blom.

"At present, we are still looking for suitable solutions, and hope to get your (sic) support and help, so that we can find feasible response measures as soon as possible," it added.

‘Willing to Cooperate’

Spokesperson of another app – HoneyCam - operated by Australia-based Shellin PTY Ltd told Moneycontrol that they are ‘committed to comply' with India's regulations such as IT Act 2000 and so on.

"India is an important market for HoneyCam and we attach great importance to its user base. We are well aware of the potential and opportunities of the Indian market and the importance of complying with local laws and regulations. Therefore, we are willing to cooperate with the Indian government on any matters related to the audit to ensure that our app meets the compliance requirements in India," Honeycam’s spokesperson said.

The company said that it has content review mechanism, including automated content filtering, manual review and oversight to ensure that content complies with laws.

It is unclear if national security concerns played a role in this latest round of blocking, but the inclusion of apps from countries beyond China and Hong Kong suggests a broader regulatory scrutiny.

With only 15 out of 119 apps currently inaccessible in India, it remains to be seen how and when the remaining applications will be blocked, as Google’s disclosure does not specify the timeline for enforcement.

Moneycontrol will update this story as more responses from affected developers and government officials become available.