Anyone who has ever used a PC, has definitely used the VLC Player at one point or the other. However, the popular video playing app is apparently now banned in India and a report suggests that the ban has been in place for around six months. Some believe that the app was banned along with 54 Chinese apps in February this year. Ironically, no one knows exactly why the app has been banned.

“Most major ISPs [internet service providers] are banning the site, with diverse techniques,” VideoLan president and lead developer Jean-Baptiste Kempf said of the blocking in India, in an email to TechCrunch.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tiktok-and-other-chinese-apps-compile-data-497313">TikTok and other Chinese apps compile data</a>

Kempf says the VLC website and the link to install it have been down in India since February 13. “We’ve asked the Indian government and we got no answer. We probably did not ask the right place though. I wish I knew how to ask properly,” Kempf wrote on Y Combinator-run Hacker News.&nbsp;

“The weirdest is that some ISPs are blocking it and some are not. So why is that the case? Are some ISP not listening to the government?” he added.

The VLC website, videolan.org, has been blocked by the government on Windows systems and you will get a message saying that "the site cannot be reached".

Is there a Chinese connection?

 
So the VLC app itself doesn't come from China and is an open source software from a France-based group. However, it has a Chinese connection though. Cicada, a hacking group that is allegedly backed by the Chinese government, uses VLC Media Player to deploy malicious malware. Symantec, a cyber security research firm says that it has found victims of the same in India, Canada, Israel and several other countries.&nbsp;

Kempf says the ban is purely a misunderstanding of the Chinese security issue. He also added a word of caution saying that the ban will push Indian citizens to “shady websites that are running hacked version of VLC. So they are endangering their own citizens with this ban".

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/remove-china-apps-tool-to-delete-chinese-apps-from-phone-goes-viral-in-india-302701">'Remove China Apps': Tool to delete Chinese apps from phone goes viral in India</a>

Ironically, the mobile app has not been banned. The rationale behind is that since mobile apps are hosted on Google’s PlayStore and Apple’s App Store servers instead of the servers where the desktop versions are hosted, they have been termed safe. Also, users who already have the app on their desktops can continue to use it.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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Anyone who has ever used a PC, has definitely used the VLC Player at one point or the other. However, the popular video playing app is apparently now banned in India and a report suggests that the ban has been in place for around six months.

Anyone who has ever used a PC, has definitely used the VLC Player at one point or the other. However, the popular video playing app is apparently now banned in India and a report suggests that the ban has been in place for around six months. Some believe that the app was banned along with 54 Chinese apps in February this year. Ironically, no one knows exactly why the app has been banned. “Most major ISPs [internet service providers] are banning the site, with diverse techniques,” VideoLan president and lead developer Jean-Baptiste Kempf said of the blocking in India, in an email to TechCrunch. Also Read | TikTok and other Chinese apps compile data Kempf says the VLC website and the link to install it have been down in India since February 13. “We’ve asked the Indian government and we got no answer. We probably did not ask the right place though. I wish I knew how to ask properly,” Kempf wrote on Y Combinator-run Hacker News. “The weirdest is that some ISPs are blocking it and some are not. So why is that the case? Are some ISP not listening to the government?” he added. The VLC website, videolan.org, has been blocked by the government on Windows systems and you will get a message saying that "the site cannot be reached". Is there a Chinese connection? So the VLC app itself doesn't come from China and is an open source software from a France-based group. However, it has a Chinese connection though. Cicada, a hacking group that is allegedly backed by the Chinese government, uses VLC Media Player to deploy malicious malware. Symantec, a cyber security research firm says that it has found victims of the same in India, Canada, Israel and several other countries. Kempf says the ban is purely a misunderstanding of the Chinese security issue. He also added a word of caution saying that the ban will push Indian citizens to “shady websites that are running hacked version of VLC. So they are endangering their own citizens with this ban". Also Read | 'Remove China Apps': Tool to delete Chinese apps from phone goes viral in India Ironically, the mobile app has not been banned. The rationale behind is that since mobile apps are hosted on Google’s PlayStore and Apple’s App Store servers instead of the servers where the desktop versions are hosted, they have been termed safe. Also, users who already have the app on their desktops can continue to use it. (With inputs from agencies)

India has banned the VLC Media Player. Is there a Chinese connection?

India has banned 47 Chinese apps which were clones of 59 Chinese apps which were banned in June. These include TikTok Lite,&nbsp;Cam Scanner advance.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-authorities-take-possession-of-closed-us-consulate-in-chengdu-foreign-ministry-316173">Chinese authorities take possession of closed US consulate in Chengdu</a>

Order was issued on Friday. The comes even has Indian govt tighten rule for Chinese companies to invest in India. Last week India amended&nbsp;General Financial Rules 2017 making it difficult for Chinese companies to be part of govt procurement.

The order said,"Any&nbsp;bidder from countries sharing a land border with India will be eligible to bid in any procurement whether of goods, services (including consultancy services and non-consultancy services) or works (including turnkey projects)&nbsp;only if the bidder is registered with the Competent Authority."

The Competent Authority for registration will be the Registration Committee constituted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Political and security clearance from the Ministries of External and Home Affairs respectively will be mandatory.

On June 29, India&nbsp;banned 59 Chinese apps including popular tiktok app after a violent face-off at Line Of Actual Contol in Eastern Ladakh in which 20 Indian soldiers died.&nbsp;Chinese forces also suffered casualties but haven't come out with a number.

India has banned 47 Chinese apps which were clones of 59 Chinese apps which were banned in June. These include TikTok Lite, Cam Scanner advance. Also read: Chinese authorities take possession of closed US consulate in Chengdu Order was issued on Friday.

India has banned 47 Chinese apps which were clones of 59 Chinese apps which were banned in June. These include TikTok Lite, Cam Scanner advance. Also read: Chinese authorities take possession of closed US consulate in Chengdu Order was issued on Friday. The comes even has Indian govt tighten rule for Chinese companies to invest in India. Last week India amended General Financial Rules 2017 making it difficult for Chinese companies to be part of govt procurement. The order said,"Any bidder from countries sharing a land border with India will be eligible to bid in any procurement whether of goods, services (including consultancy services and non-consultancy services) or works (including turnkey projects) only if the bidder is registered with the Competent Authority." The Competent Authority for registration will be the Registration Committee constituted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Political and security clearance from the Ministries of External and Home Affairs respectively will be mandatory. On June 29, India banned 59 Chinese apps including popular tiktok app after a violent face-off at Line Of Actual Contol in Eastern Ladakh in which 20 Indian soldiers died. Chinese forces also suffered casualties but haven't come out with a number.

India bans 47 Chinese apps that were clones of the 59 apps banned in June

Days after India banned 59 Chinese apps for engaging in activities which are "prejudicial" to the sovereignty and integrity of the country, Beijing on Thursday urged New Delhi to immediately "correct its discriminatory practices" against Chinese companies.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-blocks-access-to-wion-website-after-india-bans-59-chinese-apps-310271" hreflang="en">China blocks access to WION website after India bans 59 Chinese apps</a>

India on Monday banned 59 apps with Chinese links, including the hugely popular TikTok and UC Browser, for engaging in "activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order".

The ban also comes in the backdrop of the current stand-off along the Line of Actual control in eastern Ladakh with Chinese troops.

Responding to reports that both countries are strengthening import regulations and suppressing each other's export goods amid the tense border situation and its impact on China's foreign trade enterprises exports to India, Chinese Commerce Ministry Spokesman Gao Feng said that China has not taken any restrictive measures against Indian products and services.

"First of all, I want to clarify that China has not taken any restrictive and discriminatory measures against Indian products and services,"&nbsp;he said, according to the transcript posted on the ministry's website.

"India's relevant practices violate relevant World Trade Organization rules," Gao said.

The spokesman also expressed hope that "India would immediately correct the discriminatory practices against China and Chinese enterprises."

Announcing its decision to ban 59 apps in view of information available that they are "engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order", India's Information Technology Ministry said the move will "safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace."

The IT ministry statement also said that it has received many complaints from various sources, including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for "stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users' data in an unauthorised manner to servers which have locations outside India".

"The success of China-India economic and trade cooperation is the result of the joint efforts of the governments and enterprises of the two sides and serves the fundamental interests of the two people?, he said.

Gao said, "China attaches great importance to strengthening practical cooperation with India in all fields and hopes that the two sides will meet each other halfway, earnestly implement the economic and trade consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries."

He said the two sides should promote the sound and stable development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation and make efforts for the common prosperity of the two countries and the region at large.

On Tuesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that it was ?strongly concerned? over India's move banning 59 Chinese apps.

Days after India banned 59 Chinese apps for engaging in activities which are "prejudicial" to the sovereignty and integrity of the country, Beijing on Thursday urged New Delhi to immediately "correct its discriminatory practices" against Chinese companies.

Days after India banned 59 Chinese apps for engaging in activities which are "prejudicial" to the sovereignty and integrity of the country, Beijing on Thursday urged New Delhi to immediately "correct its discriminatory practices" against Chinese companies. Also read: China blocks access to WION website after India bans 59 Chinese apps India on Monday banned 59 apps with Chinese links, including the hugely popular TikTok and UC Browser, for engaging in "activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order". The ban also comes in the backdrop of the current stand-off along the Line of Actual control in eastern Ladakh with Chinese troops. Responding to reports that both countries are strengthening import regulations and suppressing each other's export goods amid the tense border situation and its impact on China's foreign trade enterprises exports to India, Chinese Commerce Ministry Spokesman Gao Feng said that China has not taken any restrictive measures against Indian products and services. "First of all, I want to clarify that China has not taken any restrictive and discriminatory measures against Indian products and services," he said, according to the transcript posted on the ministry's website. "India's relevant practices violate relevant World Trade Organization rules," Gao said. The spokesman also expressed hope that "India would immediately correct the discriminatory practices against China and Chinese enterprises." Announcing its decision to ban 59 apps in view of information available that they are "engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order", India's Information Technology Ministry said the move will "safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace." The IT ministry statement also said that it has received many complaints from various sources, including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for "stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users' data in an unauthorised manner to servers which have locations outside India". "The success of China-India economic and trade cooperation is the result of the joint efforts of the governments and enterprises of the two sides and serves the fundamental interests of the two people?, he said. Gao said, "China attaches great importance to strengthening practical cooperation with India in all fields and hopes that the two sides will meet each other halfway, earnestly implement the economic and trade consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries." He said the two sides should promote the sound and stable development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation and make efforts for the common prosperity of the two countries and the region at large. On Tuesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that it was ?strongly concerned? over India's move banning 59 Chinese apps.

China urges India to 'correct discriminatory practices' against its firms after ban on Chinese apps

Google on Thursday said it has temporarily blocked access to those apps that were still available on the Play Store in India even after the government banned on 59 apps this week.

"While we continue to review the interim orders from the Government of India, we have notified the affected developers and have temporarily blocked access to the apps that remained available on the Play Store in India," a Google spokesperson said.

On Tuesday, the Indian government directed all internet service providers to block the banned apps under the emergency clause of the IT Act. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/havent-adopted-discriminatory-measures-against-indian-products-says-china-on-apps-banned-by-india-310146">Also Read:&nbsp;Haven't adopted discriminatory measures against Indian products, says China</a>

The Indian government had on Monday banned 59 Chinese apps amid the India-China standoff at Galwan Valley.

Other than TikTok, the apps which were banned included UC Browser, SHAREit, Baidu map, Shein, clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browsers, Virus Cleaner, Apus Browser and many more. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-quits-chinese-social-network-weibo-all-posts-profile-picture-removed-309928">Also Read: PM Modi quits Chinese social network Weibo</a>

Meanwhile, China's commerce ministry said that China has not "adopted any restrictive and discriminatory measures against Indian products and services". The Commerce ministry said it hoped India corrects its "discriminatory actions against Chinese companies immediately."&nbsp;

In a similar move, China's foreign ministry had earlier said it was "strongly concerned" over India's ban on Chinese apps. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Google on Thursday said it has temporarily blocked access to those apps that were still available on the Play Store in India even after the government banned on 59 apps this week.

Google on Thursday said it has temporarily blocked access to those apps that were still available on the Play Store in India even after the government banned on 59 apps this week. "While we continue to review the interim orders from the Government of India, we have notified the affected developers and have temporarily blocked access to the apps that remained available on the Play Store in India," a Google spokesperson said. On Tuesday, the Indian government directed all internet service providers to block the banned apps under the emergency clause of the IT Act. Also Read: Haven't adopted discriminatory measures against Indian products, says China The Indian government had on Monday banned 59 Chinese apps amid the India-China standoff at Galwan Valley. Other than TikTok, the apps which were banned included UC Browser, SHAREit, Baidu map, Shein, clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browsers, Virus Cleaner, Apus Browser and many more. Also Read: PM Modi quits Chinese social network Weibo Meanwhile, China's commerce ministry said that China has not "adopted any restrictive and discriminatory measures against Indian products and services". The Commerce ministry said it hoped India corrects its "discriminatory actions against Chinese companies immediately." In a similar move, China's foreign ministry had earlier said it was "strongly concerned" over India's ban on Chinese apps. (With inputs from agencies)

Google temporarily blocks access to banned apps in India

India officially bans Chinese apps including TikTok: Here are the top 10!

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