NEW DELHI – The Indian government has officially denied recent reports and social media speculation suggesting that the ban on TikTok has been lifted. Sources from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology confirmed late Friday that no order has been issued to unblock the popular Chinese social media platform, calling any such news “false and misleading.” tiktok
The clarification comes after some users reported being able to access the TikTok website on their desktop browsers, sparking widespread excitement and rumors of a potential comeback. However, government officials stated that this partial accessibility was not a result of a policy change and that the app itself remains fully inaccessible in the country.
A Look Back: The Context of the Ban
The ban on TikTok is part of a broader government action that began in June 2020. Following violent border clashes in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley, India banned 59 Chinese-origin applications, citing them as a “threat to sovereignty and integrity.” The list of banned apps also included other high-profile platforms such as UC Browser, Shein, and later, the mobile game PUBG.
The Ministry of Electronics and IT stated that its decision was based on numerous complaints about the misuse of user data and its unauthorized transfer to servers outside India. The government expressed deep concern that such data mining and profiling by “elements hostile to national security” was a direct threat to India’s defense and sovereignty.
The Stance on Data and National Security
The government’s hardline stance on the issue was further emphasized by the Ministry’s statement, which highlighted a “strong chorus in the public space” for strict action against apps that compromise national security and citizen privacy.
Before the ban, TikTok, which is owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, had an estimated 120 million users in India, making the country one of its largest and most lucrative markets. Despite the company’s past efforts to work with the government and address concerns, the ban was made permanent in early 2021.
This recent false alarm serves as a reminder that while diplomatic and trade relations between India and China may see fluctuations, the government’s firm position on data security and national integrity remains unchanged.
