Top-level government panel to probe data practices of Chinese apps

NEW DELHI | BENGALURU: Representatives from the 59 Chinese apps banned by India on Monday can appear before a government-constituted committee within 48 hours of the announcement to prove that the data of Indian users is not being sent to servers in China, top officials told ET.

The committee, which is likely to meet on Wednesday, will conduct a detailed inquiry into the data-sharing practices of these apps, including top social media platforms TikTok, Helo and WeChat.

Executives from apps such as TikTok, Bigo Live and Likee said they will cooperate with the government in the investigations and that they had begun the process.

Officials from the ministry of home affairs, ministry of electronics & IT, ministry of information & broadcasting, and law & justice will be part of the panel, along with Sanjay Bahl, director general of CERT-In — India’s nodal agency for internet security.