DoT orders telcos, internet services providers to block 59 Chinese apps

NEW DELHI: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has ordered all telecom operators and internet service providers (ISPs) to immediately block 59 Chinese apps, including Bytedance’s TikTok, Alibaba’s UC Browser, WeChat, Shareit and Mi Video by smartphone maker, Xiaomi.

The DoT has issued names of the apps to be blocked in two lists. The first list has 35 names, while the second list contains 24 companies, taking the total to 59 as announced by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) late Monday.

“Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued directions for blocking of 35 apps under the emergency clause 69A of the IT Act, 2000,” the DoT said in its order, a copy of which has been viewed by Mint.