Indian Army asks personnel to remove 89 apps including Facebook, Instagram from their phones
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New Delhi, July 09: Amidst rising concerns over data privacy, the Indian Army directed its personnel to delete 89 Apps including Facebook, TikTok, Tinder, PUBG, and Instagram from their smartphones to plug leakage of sensitive national security information from phones.
The Indian Army has asked its personnel to delete these apps from their smartphones if it has been already installed and also warned that they will take action against personnel who do not delete the apps by July 15. The move was taken in the wake of the fatal altercation that broke out between the armies of India and China at Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh on June 15.
Army banned those app stating "they are engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, the security of the state and public order". The ban has been imposed on apps across messaging platforms, web browsers, content sharing, gaming apps, etc. The list also includes few apps like Facebook, Instagram, Tinder, Tumblr, Zoom, Daily Hunt, Tinder, Truecaller, Clash of Kings, Club Factory, Tumblr, Reddit.
89 apps banned by the Indian Army for its soldiers & officers. Includes the previously GOI-banned 59 Chinese apps + Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr, Reddit, Tinder, PUBG, True Caller etc. Full list: pic.twitter.com/zCpcwOYJVu
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) July 9, 2020
This is not the first time that the army has ordered a similar ban either. Earlier this year, the army gave a warning to officers using Facebook and WhatsApp. There are many incidents were reported in the army where personnel of the Indian Armed forces has leaked sensitive information related to the Indian armed forces after they were honey-trapped by the Pakistani ISI operatives on social media.
Earlier in February, the Indian Navy had imposed a strict ban on the use of smartphones and social media applications such as Facebook by its personnel after several sailors from Vizag, Karwar and a hawala operator were arrested for leaking information to Pakistan.
The move comes more than a week after the Home Ministry banned 59 Chinese Apps including TikTok, UC Browser, and Cam Scanner saying the apps were engaged in activities that are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, the security of the state and public order.