Govt Directs Google To Take away Chinese language App For Displaying Improper Map Of India | Know-how Information

New Delhi: The Ministry of Electronics and Data Know-how (MeitY), together with the Survey of India (SoI), has directed US tech large Google to take away the Chinese language chat app ‘Ablo’ from its Play Retailer, because the app isn’t right in its depiction of India’s territorial borders. 

The federal government’s discover states that the China-based video chat platform, which has over 10,000 downloads on Google Play, misrepresented the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, and fully omitted Lakshadweep Island from its map. The directive additionally refers back to the Felony Legislation (Modification) Act, 1990, which makes such misrepresentations a punishable offense with imprisonment of as much as six months, fines, or each.

“It’s evident that the topic map within the ‘Ablo’ app obtainable at Google Play Retailer depicts Indian map with inaccurate exterior boundary of India which jeopardises the sovereignty and integrity of India,” the discover states.

MeitY has cited Part 79(3)(b) of the Data Know-how Act, 2000, which mandates intermediaries to “expeditiously take away or disable entry” to content material that violates Indian legal guidelines, in its discover to Google.

MEITY’s discover states that the problem of incorrect maps on digital platforms, was flagged throughout a gathering with SoI. The ministry has requested SoI to pursue authorized motion in opposition to such apps beneath related legal guidelines.

The IT Ministry additionally cited the Supreme Courtroom’s 2015 Shreya Singhal v. Union of India judgment, which obligates intermediaries to behave on legitimate authorities order.

Google seems to have complied with the order, as Google Play Retailer touchdown web page of the app now reveals the message: “We’re sorry, the requested URL was not discovered on this server”. The app can also be now unavailable on Apple’s App Retailer for the Indian customers.

Earlier in 2023, MeitY and SoI flagged apps on the Play Retailer akin to World Map Quiz and MA 2 – President Simulator for depicting India’s borders incorrectly. Equally, in 2021, Twitter (now X) was pulled up by the Indian authorities over non-compliance with the IT Guidelines 2021.

The then Twitter India chief Manish Maheshwari was booked by the Uttar Pradesh police on expenses for incorrect illustration of the map of India.