'Digital Strike': Ravi Shankar Prasad on Chinese Apps Ban by India

Meanwhile, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad invoked the term ‘digital strike’ while talking about the app ban.

Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo: The Quint)

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday, 2 July, hinted that by banning 59 Chinese apps, India has done a "digital strike".

“For security and sovereignty of India, for countrymen’s digital security and privacy we have banned 59 apps, including TikTok. India knows how to look in the eyes of those eyeing our borders and to protect countrymen, India can even do a digital strike,” said Prasad in a BJP rally in Bengal as per Indian Express.

“In the wake of the ban which we have imposed … I don’t want to go into the details of it … emergency powers have been exercised and the legal processes have been followed. But I think it is a great opportunity for goods and apps made by Indians.”

Ravi Shankar Prasad

This comes days after India's Ministry of Electronics and IT said that the banned apps, including the hugely popular TikTok, “engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.”

Invoking Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2008, the press statement cited threats to the privacy of users and data security as the prime reasons to block public access to these apps.

'Discriminatory Actions Against Chinese Companies'

Meanwhile, China's Commerce Ministry on Thursday, 2 July, hoped that India would correct its discriminatory actions against Chinese companies immediately, news agency Reuters reported, days after the Indian government announced a ban on 59 Chinese-owned apps.

The ministry's spokesperson, Gao Feng further, reportedly said that China has not adopted any restrictive or discriminatory measures targeting India's products and services.

Earlier, Chinese Embassy had also echoed the same sentiment.

(With inputs from Reuters, PTI and Indian Express)