India welcomes FDI in internet technology, but foreign entities will have to abide by law of land

Three days after banning the use of 59 Chinese apps in India, New Delhi on Thursday said that it would continue to welcome foreign investments in the area of internet technology, but foreign entities would have to abide by the laws of the land.

“While we will continue to welcome foreign investments in India, including in the area of internet technologies, this will have to be in accordance with the rules and regulatory framework established by the Government,” Anurag Srivastava, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said.

Beijing on Tuesday “firmly opposed” India’s move to ban the use of 59 apps linked to China, stating that New Delhi abused the “national security exception” to the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO). New Delhi dismissed the allegation by Beijing.