Centre bans 47 cloned Chinese apps

The ministry of electronics and information technology (MEITY) has banned 47 apps, which were variants and cloned copies of the 59 apps banned earlier in June, taking the total number of banned apps to 106. 

These banned clones include Tiktok Lite, Helo Lite, SHAREit Lite, BIGO LIVE Lite and VFY Lite. 

The order regarding the ban on these apps came on Friday, July 24. 

The 59 apps, most of which were Chinese, had been banned by the Centre in June in view of the information available that they are engaged in activities which are "prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity and defence" of the country. 

Almost all the apps banned had some preferential Chinese interest and the majority have parent Chinese companies. 

The ban came amid border tensions with China in Eastern Ladakh.