TikTok, China-based popular application in India, is among the 59 apps that have been blocked by the Indian government, a move taken after the India-China relations have gone rough, following the border clashes between the two nations.
After the development, TikTok came with its clarification insisting that it did not pass on any information about its users to any foreign government including the Chinese government and would not do so in the future too.
TikTok India’s head Nikhil Gandhi said the company had been invited to meet with government stakeholders concerned “to respond and submit clarifications”.
“TikTok continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law and has not shared any information of our users in India with any foreign government, including the Chinese government,” Gandhi said.
“Further, if we are requested to in the future, we would not do so. We place the highest importance on user privacy and integrity,” he added.
The banned applications have been removed from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store for India.
TikTok, UC Browser and WeChat are among the 59 Chinese apps blocked for “engaging in activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.”
As the news came in, TikTok’s rival made in India app, Chingari, started getting massive hits.
Chingari’s name on the Google Play store also carries the the tag ‘original Indian short video app’. The app has a 4.7 star rating and over 2.5 million downloads. According to reports, the app has gone from 6 lakh users to 25 lakh in just last 10 days.
Soon after the government banned the app, twitter was flooded with hilarious memes. Some of them include:
#tiktokbaninindia #TikTok and 59 others apps banned
Meanwhile Tiktokers pic.twitter.com/ULb6x8oona
— Armaan Saini (@ArmaanS77722969) June 29, 2020
Govt. Baned #TikTok.
Meanwhile tiktokers 😁……. pic.twitter.com/SUigLCMMf5— Akash ch. (@GureshC) June 29, 2020
#TikTok banned by central govt
Le Memers and Youtubers😪😪 pic.twitter.com/aqqqsqA5RJ
— sexysundari👅 (@tweetshivani_) June 29, 2020
59 Chinese apps including TikTok pic.twitter.com/3hLc6MeJln
— The Daily Hera Pheri Meme Project (@dailyherapheri) June 29, 2020.