The Government of India has now affirmed that the Tik Tok ban will still be enforced with Union IT Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw indicating that the restriction has no plans of being lifted. The government has discarded all rumors concerning re-entry of Tik Tok, and have pointed this as the reorganization of the issue of national security and data privacy as the paramount concerns that drives the decision towards this matter. The ban is a continuation of the attention given by India to the protection of user data and the sovereignty of online systems.

Highlights:

• No proposal to lift TikTok ban, confirms Ashwini Vaishnaw.
• Minister clarifies there are no government discussions about TikTok’s return.
• Temporary access issues earlier were technical glitches, not policy changes.
• TikTok was banned in June 2020 due to national security concerns.
• The government supports clear and transparent policies for foreign investments.

IndiaUnion IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has made it clear that no process of unbanning Tik Tok in India is proposed. He has pointed out that it has not been debated at any level of government, which has basically put an end to the speculation regarding the re-introduction of the app. The minister repeated that the national security and data protection will be the foremost priority, and the issue of any prohibited apps will be rigorously scrutinized and under the state procedures.

Tik Tok together with some other Chinese applications were prohibited in June 2020 by the government citing national security, and data privacy claims. The prohibition became final with time. Prior to the ban, India was the biggest market of Tik Tok having millions of active users. The stance of the government indicates the necessity to keep the data and digital platforms under control, which may have a threat to national security.

Although the TikTok ban still exists, the government has stated its readiness to remain unequivocal in the relationship to foreign investment in the technology market. Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that a foreign company should adhere to clear and transparent guidelines. The strategy of the government also guarantees that apps such as TikTok may still be prohibited but the digital ecosystem in India can still flourish under a safe and controlled environment.