Impact of border dispute on Chinese mobile app downloads in India 2020, by app
The border tension between China and India at the LAC in Ladakh region, which escalated since early May 2020, triggered a backlash against Chinese mobile apps in India. TikTok, Helo, and other popular Chinese apps saw a dip in downloads. The short video app TikTok, which reported 611 million downloads from India in the first quarter of 2020, witnessed a 38 percent decline - a loss of 8.5 million - in its new downloads from May to June 22, 2020.
At the very end of June, the Indian government banned 59 Chinese mobile apps, claiming that the apps were engaging in activities that threatened sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order. After a month, 47 more Chinese apps which are the clones of the 59 banned applications were added to the ban list, while the Indian government decided to examine 275 other Chinese apps for any violations of security risks. In the early September, India extended the number of banned apps to 118 amid the escalating border tensions.
At the very end of June, the Indian government banned 59 Chinese mobile apps, claiming that the apps were engaging in activities that threatened sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order. After a month, 47 more Chinese apps which are the clones of the 59 banned applications were added to the ban list, while the Indian government decided to examine 275 other Chinese apps for any violations of security risks. In the early September, India extended the number of banned apps to 118 amid the escalating border tensions.
