HIGHLIGHTS
* A total of 14 messaging apps have been blocked by the central government.
* These apps were reportedly used by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
* The messaging apps were used as a means of communication and to spread terror propaganda.
* The government of India bans these apps based on recommendations from defence, security, and intelligence agencies.
* GoI found out that these apps did not have representatives in India.
The Centre on Monday banned 14 mobile messenger application in crackdown against terror. These applications were reportedly being used by Over Ground Workers of different terrorist organisations based in Jammu and Kashmir to spread the message and to receive notifications from Pakistan.
The action was taken based on intelligence inputs shared with the central government in a secret communication recently, according to news agency ANI. Sources said the majority of these mobile applications are specially designed to maintain the anonymity of the users as well as their inbuilt features also make it difficult in finding out the entities associated with them.
The list of mobile messenger applications banned in India include Enigma, Crypviser, Mediafire, BChat, Nandbox, Wickrme and others. Intelligence agencies said these apps were spreading “terror propaganda” mainly in Jammu and Kashmir.
Soon after the information was shared with the Ministry of Home Affairs that these applications are being used by OWGs and members of different terrorist groups to circulate anti-India messages, the Ministry in close coordination with IT Ministry and other concerned agencies blocked them, sources were quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
As inputs received that these applications are being used to further terror propaganda and incite youths in Jammu and Kashmir, the Central government blocked them under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Sources have also claimed that these mobile applications were used by terrorists in Kashmir to communicate with their supporters and on-ground workers (OGW).
Officials told ANI that “Agencies keep track of channels used by Overground workers (OGWs) and terrorists to communicate among themselves. While tracking down one of the communication, agencies found that the mobile application does not have representatives in India and it is difficult to track down activities happening on the app. Thereafter, with the help of other intelligence agencies operating in the valley, a list of such apps was prepared that pose a threat to national security and do not follow Indian laws.”
This is not the first time mobile application have been banned in the country. Earlier too citing security reasons many Chinese apps were banned. In a recent incident, over 200 Chinese app were banned in India.
The government had ordered to ban around 230 Chinese apps, including 138 betting apps and 94 loan lending apps, on “urgent” and “emergency” basis. Reports stated that the government began an analysis of as many as 288 Chinese apps around six months ago and found that these apps could have accessed the personal data of Indian citizens. The action was initiated by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In the last few years, the government had ordered to ban many 250 Chinese apps citing them to be “prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state and public order” Apps including TikTok, Xender, PUBG Mobile Shein, Camscanner, Garena Free Fire, among others were banned in India as they purportedly gathered sensitive user data and requested important permissions.
In February, The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had also revoked ban orders some digital lending apps like Kissht, LazyPay, Buddy Loan, Indiabulls Home Loans, and Faircent. Kreditbee and MPokket. The ministry had issued orders to internet service providers and app stores to unblock some of the apps. The decision was taken after the review meeting with MeitY officials.
One of the players told Mint that few things government wants to know are – the colour of the money (basically the VCs backing); the kind of customers they are catering to; where the data isgetting stored etc.
Here’s the full list of the Blocked Apps
* Crypviser
* Enigma
* Safeswiss
* Wickrme
* Mediafire
* Briar
* BChat
* Nandbox
* Conion
* IMO
* Element
* Second line
* Zangi
* Threema
How the apps were discovered According to the report, the above listed apps were found installed on smartphones that were recovered from terrorists killed in operations. It was also found during investigations, and on the devices of on ground workers who had at least on the apps. Although interception was difficult, the presence and nature of the apps revealed that they were being used to spread Pakistan-terror agenda.
Although these apps have been blocked, the founders cannot be traced since they’re not based in India and don’t have any representatives either. These messaging apps also have heavy encryption which then gives privacy and anonymity to users making it difficult to access the content. These apps also have servers in different countries adding to the difficulty of tracing their origin.
These apps have been blocked under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The apps won’t be available to download from official app store markets, and won’t be able to access the Indian server as well. But given the nature of the apps, it’s likely that more will come up in the future.
Faqs on Banned Apps
1) List of 14 Apps Banned in J&K by Central Government?
Ans) As per the source, the GoI has banned a total of 14 apps and they are as follows:
1. Crypviser
2. Enigma
3. Safeswiss
4. Wickrme
5. Mediafire
6. Briar
7. BChat
8. Nandbox
9. Conion
10. IMO
11. Element
12. Second line
13. Zangi
14. Threema
The above-mentioned apps are banned in Jammu and Kashmir regions for now. While these are not very popular apps when compared to the likes of WhatsApp, Telegram, FB Messenger, and more, from the look on the Play Store, it looks like most of these apps offers private and secure messaging platform.
The report further adds that the agencies did try to contact the app owners multiple times, but there was no office to contact in India. This eventually led to the ban of the apps in J&K. As said earlier, most of these messaging apps are designed to provide anonymity to the users, and their features made it tough to resolve entities associated with them. The Ministry of home affairs through different agencies found that these mobile apps aided terrorists and their affiliates to engage in activities.
As of now, these apps have been blocked under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, added the report.
2) Centre banning mobile apps . Full news ?
Ans) Agencies keep track of channels used by Overground workers (OGWs) and terrorists to communicate among themselves. While tracking down one of the communication, agencies found that the mobile application does not have representatives in India and it is difficult to track down activities happening on the app,” said an official.
While the Ministry of Home Affairs, through various agencies, discovered that these applications assisted terrorists and their supporters in engaging in terrorist activities. According to the report, a senior intelligence official stated that these applications were discovered to be spreading terror propaganda and inciting youth in Jammu and Kashmir.
Government officials, on the other hand, discovered that the applications have no representatives in India and are designed to provide users with anonymity. The application’s features made it difficult to resolve entities associated with them. The agencies attempted to contact the app’s management, but there were no India-based offices to carry it out.
According to the report, the aforementioned applications were used by terrorists in Kashmir with their supporters and on-the-ground workers in accordance with the recommendations of various agencies.
CENTRE has blocked 14 mobile messenger applications that were being used by terrorist groups in Jammu and Kashmir after being recommended by the defence forces, intelligence agencies, and investigation agencies under the Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. According to the report, the list includes Crypviser, Enigma, Safeswiss, Wickrme, Mediafire, Briar, BChat, Nandbox, Conion, IMO, Element, Second line, Zangi, and Threema.