India Blocks 14 Apps Used By Terrorists To Receive Messages

India Blocks These 14 Apps Used by Terrorists to Receive Messages from Pakistan

After discovering that certain mobile messenger apps were being used by terrorist groups in Jammu and Kashmir, the Central Government of India has taken action and blocked 14 such apps. According to reports, these apps were being used by terrorists to spread messages and receive communication from Pakistan. The recommendation to block these apps came from various defence forces, security, intelligence, and investigation agencies.

It was discovered that these apps were being used by terrorists in Kashmir to communicate with their supporters and on-ground workers (OGW). Furthermore, none of these apps had representatives in India, which was a cause for concern. These apps were blocked under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

List Of 14 Apps Blocked

Crypviser
Enigma
Safeswiss
Wickrme
Mediafire
Briar
BChat
Nandbox
Conion
IMO
Element
Second line
Zangi
Threema

Most of these apps were designed to provide anonymity to their users, which made it difficult to trace entities associated with them. Various agencies found that these mobile apps aided terrorists and their affiliates in engaging in terror activities. ANI quoted an official who said, “Agencies keep track of channels used by Overground workers (OGWs) and terrorists to communicate among themselves. While tracking down one of the communication, agencies found that the mobile application does not have representatives in India and it is difficult to track down activities happening on the app.”

Intelligence agencies operating in the valley prepared a list of apps that posed a threat to national security and did not comply with Indian laws. After the concerned Ministry was informed of the request to ban these mobile applications, they were blocked under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The intelligence agencies also informed higher-ups that these apps were spreading terror propaganda in the Valley.

The Central government has previously taken similar actions against hundreds of apps in the past, citing security concerns. In recent years, they have imposed bans on around 250 Chinese apps, claiming that they were “prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state and public order.” These banned apps include popular applications such as TikTok, Shareit, WeChat, Helo, Likee, UC News, Bigo Live, UC Browser, Xender, Camscanner, and popular mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Garena Free Fire.