Government demands Google's elimination of a Chinese social media app from the Play Store, as explained below.
The Indian authorities have issued a directive to Google to eliminate the Chinese video chat application, Ablo, from its Play Store due to the erroneous depiction of India's map. As per reports, the app incorrectly displayed the geographical boundaries of the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, leaving out Lakshadweep Island from the map. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Survey of India (SoI) stated that the app's map constitutes an infringement of India's sovereignty and integrity.
The notice, issued to Google, references the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1990, which stipulates that inaccurate portrayal of the Indian map can result in imprisonment, fines, or both. The authorities also cited Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which mandates online platforms to expeditiously remove content that violates Indian laws.
During a meeting between MeitY and the Survey of India, the issue was brought up, and the government urged the Survey of India to consider legal action against such apps. Although Ablo was still accessible on the Google Play Store at the time of the latest check, it had already been removed from Apple's App Store.
Previous instances of map controversies involving digital platforms have occurred, with apps like World Map Quiz and MA 2 - President Simulator being flagged for similar reasons. However, in the case of Ablo, more specific details are needed to confirm the app's removal from Google's platform and investigate the matter further.
Technology companies are under political pressure to adhere to general-news regulations, as demonstrated by the Indian authorities' directive to Google to remove the Chinese video chat app, Ablo, from its Play Store due to inaccurate map representations. The notice issued to Google references Indian laws including the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1990, and Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which emphasize the need for online platforms to expeditiously remove content that violates Indian laws when it comes to the depiction of the country's map.
