China has restricted access to Indian newspapers and news websites on Tuesday a day after the Indian government banned 59 Chinese mobile apps including TikTok, a popular short video-sharing platform.
As per the Indian government’s official statement, these Chinese apps are “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.”
While Chinese newspapers and websites remain accessible in India, people in China can only access the Indian news websites through Virtual Private Network (VPN) server.
VPNs act as a mask Internet Protocol (IP) address so that the user’s online actions cant be traced, thereby providing privacy and anonymity online by generating a private network from a public internet connection.
But, China has already created a technologically advanced firewall which blocks even VPNs.
The Indian TV channels, however, can still be accessed through IP TV as of now.
In an order issued under section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009, the Ministry of Information Technology said it has decided to block 59 apps.