Chinese apps weighing legal recourse against India ban

New Delhi: Several among the 59 Chinese apps that have been permanently banned by India are weighing the option of challenging the order in court, according to multiple people in the know.

The banned apps including TikTok, SHAREit, UC Browser, shopping app Club Factory as well as Tencent’s WeChat had been served an interim ban order in June. Last week, the ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY) sent another notice to the companies saying that the ban will continue. Other apps which are reported to be permanently banned under the Section 69a of the Information Technology Act include BIGO Live and some from the stable of Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi.

Company insiders and lawyers representing the companies told ET there is now little left to fear from the government. “Earlier the apps didn’t want to antagonise the government by filing lawsuits but now they have no (other) option left apart from exiting the Indian market altogether,” said one lawyer who represents several of these banned Chinese apps.