The Indian Army has asked all its personnel and soldiers to remove 89 apps by July 15 owing to the national security risks.
The list not only has Chinese apps that have already been banned by the government but also carries US-based platforms.
The 89 apps are We Chat, QQ, Kik, ooVoo, Nimbuzz, Helo, Qzone, Share Chat, Viber, Line, IMO, Snow, To Tok, Hike, TikTok, Likee, Samosa, Kwali, SharIt, Xender, Zapya, UC Browser, UC Browser Mini, LiveMe, BigoLive, Zoom, Fast Films, Vmate, Uplive, Vigo Video, CamScanner, Beauty Plus, True Caller, PUBG, NONO Live, Clash of Kings, All Tencent gaming apps, Mobile Legends, Club Factory, AliExpress, Chinabrands, Gearbest, Banggood, MiniInThebox, TinyDeal, Dhhgate, LightinTheBox, DX, EricDress, Zalul, Tbdress, Modility, Rosegal, Shein, Romwe, Tinder, TrulyMadly, Happn, Aisle, Coffee Meets Bagel, Woo, OkCupid, Hinge, Badoo, Azar, Bumble, Tantan, Elite Singles, Tagged, Couch Surfing,360 Security Facebook, Baidu, Instagram, Ello, SnapChat, News Dog, Daily Hunt, Pratilipi, Heal of Y, POPXO, Vokal, Hungama, Songs.pk, Yelp, Tumblr, Reddit, FriendsFeed, Private Blogs
"The existing accounts are required to be deleted and not left deactivated. Any service persons found on Facebook/using banned sites post-July 15 will be reported," according to the sources in the Indian Army.
The decision has been taken in order to stop sensitive information from going out of the country.
The move comes more than a week after the Centre banned 59 Chinese mobile apps including TikTok, UC Browser, and Cam Scanner among others, saying these apps opened the way for "elements hostile to national security and defense" to exploit them to "ultimately impinge upon the sovereignty and integrity of India".
India had on June 29 banned the apps in a major retaliation against China amid the rising border tension at the Line of Actual Control (LAC)
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that Washington was looking at banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTok. In a Fox News interview on Monday, Pompeo said that "we're taking this very seriously".
Notably, apps other than 59 banned Chinese apps are not banned in India. Army has just asked officers to delete them from their mobile phones.
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