India is today one of the world's largest markets for digital internet technologies and world's largest software and internet application companies are present in the country. While operating in India one has to abide by our rules and regulations issued by relevant ministries and departments, including those pertaining to data security and privacy of individual data. However, some of them are engaged in the activities which are prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity and defence of the country. We have also seen the misuse of some of the mobile apps available, for stealing and transmitting users' data in unauthorized manner. Compilation of such data and its mining may lead to a threat in terms of national security and defence of India.

 

During these difficult times of Covid-19 and the Chinese shenanigans in the border, the Union Government has initiated a bold move in banning the Chinese Apps with effect from June 29 2020. In recent days these Chinese Apps are very deep in the blood of India. Starting from the purchase of groceries(Big Basket App) and taking food (Zomato and Swiggy Apps) to booking tickets (Make my Trip App), majority of Indian citizens depend on the Apps which are either developed by China or the Apps in which China have major shares of investments. It is proven that Indian population is highly dependable on Chinese Apps.

 

The Chinese businesses have invested in areas that touch the daily lives of Indian consumers, such as food delivery and ride-hailing apps, e-commerce platforms and digital payments. Now, following a border clash in which several soldiers were killed, calls have been growing in India to boycott everything which is Chinese.

 

This call has reached to a global level, and the other nations are also calling out to ban globally the apps like TikTok, saying it is a malware from the Chinese government that is spying on millions of its users.

 

According to China's cyber security law, all companies "must accept supervision from the government". Its privacy policy, last updated in February 2020, allows the company to take large amounts of data of Indians including metadata pertaining to location, mobile carrier, browsing history and share it with law enforcement, including China. This is war by other means, a Cyber War. In this cyber dark war, wherein unlike Galwan incursion, India's sovereignty is questioned on daily basis.

 

To chat, we use WhatsApp, an American App; to make video calls we use Zoom, an American company owned by a Chinese-origin American; even to block the 59 Chinese apps, the Indian government was reliant on Google and Apple to take these apps off the Play Store and App Store respectively. Had there not been the tacit support of the US government in this action, scarcely would the ban have been so effective so quickly. Hence, the development of mobile apps which are useful, transparent, robust and secure, is need of the hour. These Indian apps will help not only in their applications but also in the economic growth of our country. Though some Indian made Apps are available, they are not available across the spectrum, and when available, they lack features and stability. For banned Apps, some of the alternatives are presented in the following table:

 

Provisional List of Banned Chinese APPs and their Alternatives

 

 

 

SI No	Banned Chinese App		Functionality		Alternative APPs from Other Country		Alternative Indian Apps
1	TikTok		Social Media		Instagram IGTV, YouTube		Mitron,Chingari
2	Shareit		File transfer		Google Files Go		JioSwitch
3	Kwai		Social Media		Instagram IGTV, YouTube		Mitron,Chingari
4	DC Browser		Browser		Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari		JioBrowser, Bharat Browser, Epic Browser
5	Baidu map		Maps		Google Maps, HERE Maps		MyMaplndia Move
6	Shein		Shopping		Myntra, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Amazon		Tata Cliq, Reliane Digital/Jio Mart
7	Clash of Kings		Games		PUBG		Ludo King, Sudoku King
8	DU battery saver		Utility		Greenify, Servicely< Kaspersky Battery Life Saver
9	Helo		Social Media		Instagram IGTV, YouTube		Mitron,Chingari
10	Likee		Social Media		Instagram IGTV, YouTube		Mitron,Chingari
11	YouCam makeup		Camera		Snapchat, Google Camera, Open Camera		India Selfie Camera
12	Mi Community		Forum		Stackexchange, Stackoverflow, Quora		....
13	CM Browser		Browser		Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari		JioBrowser, Bharat Browser. Epic Browser
14	Virus Cleaner		Anti Virus		safe security		Jio Security
15	APUSBrowser		Browser		Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari		JioBrowser, Bharat Browser, Epic Browser
16		ROMWE		Shopping		Myntra, Flipkart, Snapdeal		Tata Cliq, Reliane Digital/Jio Mart
17		Club Factory		Shopping		Myntra, Flipkart, Snapdeal		Tata Cliq, Reliane Digital/Jio Mart
18		Newsdog		News		Flipboard, InShorts, Google News		TOI,dailyHunt
19		Beauty Plus		Camera		Snapchat, Google Camera, Open Camera		India Selfie Camera
20		WeChat		Instant messaging		WhatsApp, Telegram		Hike. Jiochat
21		UC News		News		Flipboard, InShorts, Google News		TOI, dailyHunt
22		QQ Mail		Email Client		Gmail.Yahoo, Outlook, Microsoft,		Rediffmail
23		Weibo		Microblogging		Twitter, Tumblr		Zihvah
24		Xender		File transfer		Google Files Go		JioSwitch
25		QQ Music		Audio		Spotify		JioSaavn, Gaana
26		QQ Newsfeed		News		Flipboard, InShorts, Google News		TOI,dailyHunt
27		Bigo Live		Social Media		Instagram IGTV, YouTube		Mitron, Chingari
28		SelfieCity		Camera		Snapchat, Google Camera, Open Camera		India Selfie Camera
29		Mail Master		Email Client		Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, Microsoft,		Rediffmail
30		Parallel Space		Cloning		Clone App		—
31		Mi Video Call -Xiaomi		Video Communication		Google Duo, Skype		Jio Meet,Namaste Bharat
32		WeSync		Utility		Google Contacts		—
33		ES File Explorer		Utility		Google Files Go		JioSwitch
34		Viva Video - QU Video Inc		Social Media		Instagram IGTV, YouTube		Mitron, Chingari
35		Meitu		Camera		Snapchat, Google Camera, Open Camera		India Selfie Camera
36		Vigo Video		Social Media		Instagram IGTV, YouTube		Mitron, Chingari
37		New Video Status		Social Media Status/ short video		4FUN		Social Media Post Maker, Planner, Graphic Design, Post Maker, Whatscut Pro
38		DU Recorder		Screen recorder		AZ Screen Recorder		IN Screen Recorder
39		Vault- Hide		Safe Lock		Keepsafe		Digilocker,Jio Security, NPAV Doc Locker
40		Cache Cleaner DU App studio		Utility		CCIeaner, Norton Clean.Avast cleanup		NPAV
41		DU Cleaner		Utility		CCIeaner, Norton Clean.Avast cleanup		NPAV
42		DU Browser		Browser		Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari		JioBrowser, Bharat Browser, Epic Browser
43		Hago Play With New Friends		Games		PUBG		Ludo King, Sudoku King
44		Cam Scanner		Photo and Document Scanning		Microsoft Office Lens, Adobe Scan, Photoscan by Google		Camera Scanner Image Scanner
45		Clean Master -Cheetah Mobile		Utility		NA*		NPAV
46		Wonder Camera		Camera		Snapchat, Google Camera, Open Camera		India Selfie Camera
47		Photo Wonder		Camera		Snapchat, Google Camera, Open Camera		India Selfie Camera
48		QQ Player		Media player		VLC, MX Player		Cnx Player
49	WeMeet			Social		Tinder			Flik
50	Sweet Selfie			Camera		Snapchat, Google Camera, Open Camera			India Selfie Camera
51	Baidu Translate			Utility		Google Translate, Microsoft Translate			English to Indian Language Translator
52	Vmate			Social Media Status/ short video		4FUN			Social Media Post Maker, Planner, Graphic Design, Post Maker, Whatscut Pro
53	QQ International			Instant messaging		WhatsApp, Telegram			Hike
54	QQ Security Center			Anti Virus		safe security			Jio Security
55	QQ Launcher			Utility		Microsoft Launcher			—
56	U Video			Social Media Status/ short video		4FUN			Social Media Post Maker, Planner, Graphic Design, Post Maker, Whatscut Pro
57	V fly Status Video			Social Media Status/ short video		4FUN			Social Media Post Maker, Planner, Graphic Design, Post Maker, Whatscut Pro
58	Mobile Legends			Games		PUBG			Ludo King, Sudoku King
59	DU Privacy			Safe Lock		Keepsafe			Digilockerjio Security, NPAV Doc Locker

 

In this context, the decision by the Indian Govt. banning 59 Chinese Apps is significant statement on intent. The Central Govt. is trying to revive domestic manufacturing with a call for self-reliance and a reduction in overall imports and popularizing Atmanirbhar Grand Challenge to create best.

 

For us privacy and protection of data of our countrymen are supreme. No comprise on the issues of data security and national integrity.

 

We Indian who take pride in our IT prowess, should take the situation as a challenge and build better Apps. Not that our technologists are inferior, but the drive, motivation and enterprise are lacking. Yes there are many blocks, such as Government Procedure. Lack of feeling of Vocal for Local, as our Hon'ble PM puts it, lack of Venture Capital and the ease of getting it, etc. Now hopefully this ecosystem will change and this ban will act as boon and as a starting point for providing the required ecosystem.

 

To achieve "AtmaNirbhar" goal, we need to go through some initial pain. We in technical education need to create an ecosystem where every academic year we contribute new products / apps to the society. We will have to bring in schemes to harness our technological prowess and promote developing tools for the digital world. We should make our R & D & I centers more active, create a Research teamcomprising of multidiscipline to work together on development of Apps and Digital Solutions and other commercial products which can be marketed and thus reduce the import pressure.

 

Make in India initiative should give a boost like sorts for making India next prospective Apps/Software Developer and to bring India back on track and promote local talents and help them reach the international market.

The concept of Self-reliant India will help all of us in terms of poverty alleviation, economic growth and development in all spheres, leading to meaningful life and growth.

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