The Indian government issued a ban on 54 Chinese applications that pose a threat to the country’s security, the ministry of electronics and information technology said on Monday.

“These 54 apps allegedly obtain various critical permissions and collects sensitive user data. These collected real-time data are being misused and transmitted to servers located in hostile country,” the ministry noted in a statement, adding that it had received a request from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoA) for blocking the apps under the emergency provision in Section 69(A) of the IT Act. 

Also Read: US and Chinese ambassadors to UN take swipes over Ukraine crisis

The list of banned apps includes Beauty Camera: Sweet Selfie HD, Selfie Camera, Equalizer & Bass Booster, Garena Free Fire – Illuinate, CamCard for SalesForce Ent, Omnmyoji Arena, AppLock, and Dual Space Lite, among several others.

“This will enable them to compile huge personal data to mine, collate, analyse and profile by the elements who are hostile to the sovereignty and integrity of India and for activities detrimental to national security,” the IT ministry said.

Also Read: China on Galwan soldier as Olympics torchbearer: It was an ‘objective and rational’ call

It further added concerns regarding espionage and surveillance via these apps, saying, “In addition, there are other serious concerns as some of these apps can carry out espionage and surveillance activities via camera/mic, accessing fine location (GPS) and do malicious network activity similar to previously blocked apps. These apps were allegedly engaged in activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of the country also posing serious threat to security of the state and defence of India.”

The MHA has said that the newly banned apps are either a cloned version or have similar functionality or privacy issues as in the previously blocked 267 apps, Hindustan Times reported.

Also Read: US senators say America stands with India against Chinese aggression

With this, the number of Chinese apps being blocked in India has risen to 321. The government had first banned 59 apps in June 2020, followed by a ban on 47 related apps in August, September, and November of the same year — ever since border tensions with China escalated with the death of 20 Indian soldiers at Galwan Valley.