By ANI | Updated: 6 February 2023
In a major crackdown, the Central government has initiated the process to ban and block 138 betting apps and 94 loan lending apps with Chinese links on an ‘urgent’ and ’emergency’ basis, top government sources said on Sunday.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is learnt to have taken the decision based on the recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
As per sources, the MHA recommended the MeitY this week to ban and block these apps, and the Ministry subsequently initiated the process as per communication.
The move was taken after confirming that these apps attract Section 69 of the IT Act as they contain material which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India.
The action behind the move is based on several complaints of extortion and harassment of common people who had availed small amounts of loans through the mobile apps being run by those entities and persons.
It is learnt that these apps are the brainchild of Chinese nationals who hired Indians and made them directors in operation.
As per inputs, desperate individuals are lured into taking on a loan and then jacked up the interest by up to 3,000 per cent annually.
When the debtors were unable to repay the interest, let alone the entire loan, individuals representing these apps started harassing those in debt.
They sent them lewd messages, threatening to release their morphed photos and shaming them with messages to their contacts.
As per inputs, desperate individuals are lured into taking on a loan and then jacked up the interest by up to 3,000 per cent annually.
When the debtors were unable to repay the interest, let alone the entire loan, individuals representing these apps started harassing those in debt.
They sent them lewd messages, threatening to release their morphed photos and shaming them with messages to their contacts.
