Google has removed the popular Indian made app that sought to remove Chinese apps like Tik Tok, UC Browser, Alibaba and other Chinese apps from phone. It said that it was removed for violating its Deceptive Behaviour Policy that prohibits software from encouraging or misleading users into removing or disabling third party apps.
The app, developed by Indian based OneTouch AppLabs had hit 50 lakh downloads in just over 2 weeks of its launch. The company had claimed that it was developed only for ‘educational purposes’. The app also had a good reach in Australia where it had topped the tools sections.
Earlier, Google had deleted the Mitron app, considered to be a rival to TikTok. However, Mitron app has a shady background. The source code of the app was purchased by an IIT Roorkee student named Shivank Agarwal from a Pakistan based company called QBoxus which had come out with an app called TicTac similar to TikTok. The TicTac app was rebranded as Mitron without making any changes to the source code. Cybersecurity experts have warned that the app is unsafe as it doesn’t come with an additional firewall.
Both these apps became popular due to the prevailing anti-China sentiment coming in the wake of the Wuhan corona virus and also the recent border skirmishes.