The Government of India released an interim order yesterday, issuing a ban on Chinese apps in the wake of India’s rising tensions with China. In a press release on Monday, it was stated that a total of 59 apps, including social media platforms like Tik Tok, WeChat and Helo, will be banned in order to curb the threat posed by these applications to the country’s “sovereignty and security.”
Tik Tok is one such app that has gained a strong standing in India today, with people making a living out of this video sharing platform. In response to this decision by the government, Nikhil Gandhi, the head of Tik Tok India, issued an update on social media. He said that they have been invited to meet with certain government officials to submit clarifications about their app and how they handle their data. He ensures that information of every Indian user is protected and will not be shared by them on any grounds.
Here is their post:
He stresses that this app has “democratised the internet”, and that it has turned into a livelihood for many. We will have to stay tuned to see what comes out of this meeting to be further updated.