“..have not shared information of users in India with any foreign government..”: TikTok on ban

The Government of India government banned 59 Chinese mobile applications in the country. TikTok along with several other popular apps like Helo, UC Browser, Club Factory, WeChat, Bigo Live, CamScanner and Clean Master found mention in the list.

In a press statement, the The Ministry of Information Technology mentioned that the step has been for “defence of India, security of state and public order.”

Here’s the complete statement from TikTok:

"The Government of India has issued an interim order for the blocking of 59 apps, including TikTok and we are in the process of complying with it. We have been invited to meet with concerned government stakeholders for an opportunity to respond and submit clarifications. TikTok continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law and have not shared any information of our users in India with any foreign government, including the Chinese Government. Further if we are requested to in the future we would not do so. We place the highest importance on user privacy and integrity.

TikTok has democratized the internet by making it available in 14 Indian languages, with hundreds of millions of users, artists, story-tellers, educators and performers depending on it for their livelihood, many of whom are first time internet users."

- Nikhil Gandhi, Head of TikTok, India