Govt blocked 296 mobile apps since 2014, says Union minister Sanjay Dhotre

NEW DELHI : As many as 296 mobile apps have been blocked by the government since 2014 in the interest of the country’s sovereignty, security, and public order, Union minister Sanjay Dhotre told Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

“A total of 296 mobile applications have been blocked by government since 2014, under the provisions of section 69A of IT Act 2000 and its rules… in the interest of sovereignty & integrity of India, security of the State and public order,” Dhotre, Minister of State for Electronics and IT, said in a written reply.

The minister also said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) — the requesting agency for blocking of these apps under section 69A of the IT Act — had received “several reports about misuse of some Chinese mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms”.