The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Survey of India (SoI), has directed Google to remove the Chinese video chat app ‘Ablo’ from its Play Store for misrepresenting India’s territorial boundaries. The app, which had over 10,000 downloads, incorrectly depicted the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, while completely omitting Lakshadweep Island from the map.
Government’s Legal Action
The Indian government cited the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1990, which makes such misrepresentations a punishable offense with up to six months of imprisonment, fines, or both. Additionally, MeitY referred to Section 79 (3) (b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which mandates online platforms to expeditiously remove content that violates Indian laws.
Google’s Compliance
Following the directive, Google appears to have removed the app from its Play Store, as its landing page now displays the message: “We’re sorry, the requested URL was not found on this server”. The app has also been removed from Apple’s App Store for Indian users.
Previous Incidents
This is not the first time digital platforms have been flagged for incorrect depictions of India’s borders. In 2023, apps like World Map Quiz and MA 2 – President Simulator faced similar scrutiny. In 2021, Twitter (now X) was also pulled up by the Indian government for non-compliance with IT regulations regarding India’s territorial representation.
The Indian government has urged the Survey of India to consider legal action against apps that violate national sovereignty. This move reinforces India’s stance on protecting its territorial integrity in the digital space.
