The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has initiated the process to ban and block 138 betting apps and 94 loan lending apps with Chinese links.

These apps have been indulging in predatory acts to trap individuals in massive debt and can also be misused as tools for espionage and propaganda, besides posing a security risk to the data of the Indian citizens.

MeitY said that it has started the process to block the apps with Chinese links on an “urgent” and “emergency” basis after communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The action has been initiated after confirming that these apps attract Section 69 of the IT Act as they contain “material which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India,” according to sources.

Since betting and gambling is 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, 2021, said the advisory issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.