Govt blocks 14 mobile apps on terror suspicion

A source said that on the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), apps including Wickrme, Mediafire, Briar, BChat, Nandbox, Conion, IMO and Zangi were blocked.

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“Intelligence agencies also informed the MHA that most of these apps are designed to provide anonymity to these users," a source said.

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The Centre has blocked 14 mobile applications, which were, according to central intelligence agencies, being used by terrorists and their supporters in Jammu and Kashmir.

The move has been taken on the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs, said a source. The apps which have been blocked are Wickrme, Mediafire, Briar, BChat, Nandbox, Conion, IMO, Element, Second line, Zangi, Threema, Crypviser, Enigma, and Safeswiss. “Initially, 15 mobile applications, including a leading messenger mobile application, were identified, but action was later taken against 14 apps,” the source said, adding that these apps have been blocked under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

According to a central intelligence officer, they recommended action after finding that these apps were being used by terrorists and their supporters to communicate with their on-ground workers (OGW) in J&K. “These apps do not have any representatives in India and cannot be contacted for seeking information as mandated by the Indian laws,” a source said.

“The intelligence agencies also informed the MHA that most of these apps are designed to provide anonymity to their users and their features make it tough to resolve the entities associated with them. These mobile apps aid the terrorists and their affiliates to engage in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India and can disturb peace and harmony,” another source said.

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Jammu and Kashmir