August 23, 2025

Big news buzz is swirling, but the Indian government has spoken loud and clear! On August 22, 2025, New Delhi firmly denied reports claiming that the famous Chinese apps TikTok, AliExpress, and Shein are back in India. These apps were famously banned in 2020 due to serious data security concerns and rising tensions between India and China. Some social media posts suggested that users could open TikTok’s website, but only the homepage was visible—no videos, no fun! Similarly, AliExpress and Shein showed up but no shopping was possible. The government quickly put an end to this confusion by rejecting these claims. Here’s a spicy throwback! In 2020, right after the deadly clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley, which sadly took the lives of 20 Indian soldiers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government banned TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps. India accused TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, of misusing data and spying. Earlier in 2025, a few Chinese apps did sneak back into the Play Store as India-China diplomatic vibes improved. Apps like Xender and TanTan made a comeback – some real, some in clone versions. But TikTok? Still missing in action. India Today’s OSINT team checked over 200 banned apps and found about 36 were available again on Google’s Play Store or Apple’s App Store as of February 10, 2025. TikTok, the biggest hit among these apps, was clearly not on that comeback list. So, while a few Chinese apps tiptoed back into India, the big boss TikTok along with AliExpress and Shein remain firmly banned. The government’s message is clear: no opening the gate for these apps, not now, not yet! The 2020 ban stands strong, protecting India’s data and digital borders. Stay tuned to the real updates, and don’t get fooled by social media tricks. India's tech story continues with caution and care when it comes to Chinese apps!

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Tags: Tiktok ban, Chinese apps india, Aliexpress ban, Shein ban, India-china relations, Data security,