Indian army asks soldiers to delete 89 apps from their phones

The Indian army asked its soldiers and officers to delete 89 apps from their smartphones, according to a report put out by news agency ANI on Wednesday (July 9).

This move comes after the Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps for everyone in the country.

ANI said on Twitter that the “Indian Army has asked its personnel to delete 89 apps from their smartphone including Facebook, TikTok, Truecaller, and Instagram to plug leakage of information.”

Indian Army has asked its personnel to delete 89 apps from their smartphones including Facebook, TikTok, Truecaller and Instagram to plug leakage of information: Indian Army Sources pic.twitter.com/l23Lu5ndNh

— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2020

The list, comprising a total of 89 apps, included the 59 apps with Chinese origin. However, the list also included apps with their origin from other countries as well.

Notably, the apps other than the 59 Chinese apps are not banned throughout India, but only in the Indian Army.

The move is said to be a preventive measure against leakage of information from the Army to other external sources.

Another media report said the army has set July 15 as the deadline for soldiers and officers to delete the apps from their smartphones.

Here is a list of all the 89 apps banned in the Army:

Messaging Platforms: WeChat, QQ, Kik, ooVoo, Nimbuzz, Helo, Qzone, Share Chat, Viber, Line, IMO, Snow, To Tok, Hike

Video Posting Applications: TikTok, Likee, Samosa, Kwali

Content Sharing Apps: SHAREit, Xender, Zapya

Web Browsers: UC Browser, UC Browser Mini

Video and Live Streaming Platforms: LiveMe, BigoLive, Zoom, Fast Films, Vmate, Uplive, Vigo Video

Utility Applications: Cam Scanner, Beauty Plus, Truecaller

Gaming Apps: PUBG, NONO Live, Clash of Kings, Mobile Legends, All Tencent gaming apps

E-Commerce Platforms: Club Factory, AliExpress, Chinabrands, Gearbest, Banggood, MiniInTheBox, Tiny Deal, Dhhgate, LightinTheBox, DX, Eric Dress, Zaful, Tbdress, Modility, Rosegal, Shein, Romwe

Dating Applications: Tinder, TrulyMadly, Happn, Aisle, Coffee Meets Bagel, Woo, OkCupid, Hinge, Badoo, Azar, Bumble, Tantan, Elite Sinles, Tagged, Couch Surfing

Antivirus apps: 360 Security

Networking platforms: Facebook, Baidu, Instagram, Ello, Snapchat

News Apps: Daily Hunt, News Dog

Online Book Reading Applications: Pratilipi

Health Apps: Heal of Y

Lifestyle Platforms: POPXO

Knowledge Applications: Vokal

Music Apps: Hungama, Songs.pk

Blogging / Micro-Blogging Platforms: Yelp, Tumblr, Reddit, FriendsFeed, Private Blogs