Why is Mobile Legends banned in India?
The Indian government cites that these apps pose “threat to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order” and that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has received various complaints and reports on the misuse and unauthorized transmission of users’ data to servers outside India. The MEITY has expressed that the decision to ban these apps “will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users.
In an immediate response, the Chinese government said that it is India’s responsibility to “uphold the legitimate rights of international investors, including the Chinese ones.”
The decision to ban Chinese apps comes days after WeChat, a popular Chinese social media app, removed updates by the Emabassy of India on the recent border conflict between between the Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Some reasons for the removal of post include “divulging state secrets” and “endangering national security.”
Tensions between India and China
The move to ban Chinese apps was made amid the rising military and political tension between India and China following clashes at the border last June 15 where 20 Indian soldiers were reportedly killed.
Prior to the official announcement, many Indians were calling to boycott anything Chinese. As per reports, Chinese nationals were no longer welcome in over 3,000 hotels and guesthouses across the captital. There were also incidents of protests, destroying of Chinese products and burning of effigies of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Sonam Wangchuk, who inspired Phunsukh Wangdu’s character in the movie ‘3 Idiots’, also asked people to boycott Chinese goods which created a huge buzz online.
Mobile Legends: BANG BANG Response
In an update, Moonton, the Chinese video game developer of MLBB, has assured its players that users’ data privacy and security has always been their top priority and that active communications with the Indian government was initiated as soon as the banning of 59 apps was issued. The game developers also assured that progress updates on the matter will be posted on their official Facebook Page. Moonton thanked the players for showing support to the game.
Mobile Legends Bang Bang has been on the list of top apps with over 100 million downloads and a rating of 4.2 stars on Google Play store. It has remained at #48 since April 2020 and has over 75 Million active users. Majority of its players came from the South East Asia Region.
Complete list of banned apps in India
TikTok, Shareit, Kwai, UC Browser, Baidu map, Shein, Clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browser, Virus Cleaner, APUS Browser, ROMWE, Club Factory,
Newsdog, Beauty Plus, WeChat, UC News, QQ Mail, Weibo, Xender, QQ Music, QQ Newsfeed, Bigo Live, SelfieCity, Mail Master, Parallel Space, Mi Video Call – Xiaomi, WeSync, ES File Explorer, Viva Video – QU Video Inc, Meitu, Vigo Video, New Video Status, DU Recorder, Vault- Hide, Cache Cleaner DU App studio, DU Cleaner, DU Browser, Hago Play With New Friends, Cam Scanner, Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile, Wonder Camera, Photo Wonder, QQ Player, We Meet, Sweet Selfie, Baidu Translate, Vmate, QQ International, QQ Security Center, QQ Launcher, U Video, V fly Status Video,
Mobile Legends, DU Privacy.
What are your thoughts on this?
Online Sources:
https://www.republicworld.com/technology-news/apps/is-mlbb-banned-in-india-what-will-be-the-fate-of-mobile-elgends.html
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/chinese-app-pulls-down-india-s-posts-on-conflict/story-hONzMbOLQOEMp8lPGCb61H.html
https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/news-indian-govt-bans-59-chinese-apps-is-mobile-legends-now-banned-india
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/boycott-everything-made-in-china-delete-tiktok-says-sonam-wangchuk-man-behind-3-idiots-92025
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-53232486
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/3000-budget-hotels-to-shut-doors-on-chinese-nationals-6476662/
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/indian-residents-destroy-chinese-products-160000695.html
https://theprint.in/india/protestors-burn-chinese-flag-effigy-of-xi-jinping-outside-oppo-factory-in-greater-noida/445729/