Centre to ban 138 betting apps, 94 loan lending apps with Chinese links

In a major crackdown the Central government has initiated the process to ban and block 138 betting apps and 94 loan lending apps with Chinese links on an urgent and emergency basis top government sources said on SundayMinistry of Electronics and Information Technology MeitY is learnt to have taken the decision based on the recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs MHAAs per sources the MHA recommended the MeitY this week to ban and block these apps and the Ministry subsequently initiated the process as per communicationThe move was taken after confirming that these apps attract Section 69 of the IT Act as they contain material that is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of IndiaThe action behind the move is based on several complaints of extortion and harassment of common people who had availed small amounts of loans through the mobile apps being run by those entities and personsAlso Read China expresses dissatisfaction after US shoots down suspected spy balloonIt is learnt that these apps are the brainchild of Chinese nationals who hired Indians and made them directors in operationAs per inputs desperate individuals are lured into taking on a loan and then jacked up the interest by up to 3000 per cent annuallyWhen the debtors were unable to repay the interest let alone the entire loan individuals representing these apps started harassing those in debtThey sent them lewd messages threatening to release their morphed photos and shaming them with messages to their contactsThe matter came into the spotlight after a spate of suicides particularly in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana by those who opted for such loans or lost money to betting appsStates like Telangana Odisha and Uttar Pradesh as well as central intelligence agencies had then asked the Union Home Ministry to take action against these apps sources saidBased on these inputs the MHA started analysing 28 Chinese loan lending apps six months ago However they found that 94 apps are available on estores and that others are working through thirdparty linksIt is learnt that many apps are now not available to download on smartphones but sources say the betting apps and games are being downloaded through independent links or websitesThe Ministry of Information and Broadcasting MIB issued an advisory stating that since betting and gambling are illegal in most parts of the country advertisements of these betting platforms as well as their surrogates are also illegal under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 2019 Cable TV Network Regulation Act 1995 and the IT Rules 2021This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever