Govt blocks 232 betting, loan apps mainly linked to China
As per sources, these apps are used to trap financially strapped people in a debt trap, by increasing their interest on loans up to 3,000 per cent.
NEW DELHI: The government blocked 232 apps operated by overseas entities, including Chinese for being involved in betting, gambling and unauthorised loan service, according to an official source.
Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has issued orders to block these apps following in-structions from Ministry of Home Affairs.
“The order to block 138 apps that were involved in betting, gambling and money laundering were issued last evening. Separately, an order to block 94 apps engaged in unauthorised loan service has also been issued. These apps were being operated from offshore entities, including Chinese. They were posing a threat to the economic stability of the country,” said the official, who did not wish to be named.
The official did not disclose the name of the apps that have been blocked.
An official query sent to MeitY did not elicit any immediate response.
In 2020, India had blocked around 200 mobile apps, including PUBG Mobile, TikTok, under section 69A of the IT Act.
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