The Indian government released a statement in which it banned betting apps like Betway and Dafabet. The Indian government has passed restrictions on more than 200 apps that are related to offshore gambling and predatory loan platforms. 90 apps are blocked under “unauthorized loan services.” According to some sources, the apps were linked to China and conducted unacceptable data transfers and storage.
Highlights
Apps Blocked
The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has announced commands to block platforms like Betway and Dafabet and other 200 apps.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued the blocking orders that are passed under Section 69(A) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
According to a senior government official, the ministry had been ordered to obstruct some 138 applications that are associated with betting, gambling, and money laundering. Also, 94 applications under unauthorized loan services were blocked.
The restricted apps are not made public, as this kind of information is kept confidential according to the orders passed under Section 69(A) of the IT Act.
Another official added that it was good that Betway had been blocked as there were high chances of information getting leaked and others taking advantage of it.
Betway and Dafabet
Betway and Dafabet are both online betting platforms that offer a range of gambling and sports betting services. They allow users to place bets on various sporting events and games, such as football, cricket, basketball, and more. The apps offer a convenient and easy-to-use platform for users to access their betting services on the go.
Strict Action
The Indian government took strict action against offshore betting and gambling platforms to avoid and handle incidents of harassment against people who landed their money on these apps. The pressure is so intense that many people commit suicide because they are unable to deal with the scams. The government has ordered a ban on predatory loan apps for the first time.
For now, sites like Betway and Dafabet are not operational. Normally, the government issues orders to service providers and app stores like Google and Apple, which then have to comply with government orders as they are the online intermediaries.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had requested streaming platforms like Hotstar abstain from advertisements that encourage betting and gambling, which are more prevalent during sporting events.
RBI Guidelines
The Reserve Bank of India issued guidelines to combat malpractices in the digital lending ecosystem. The norms state that all digital loans must be disbursed and repaid through the bank accounts of regulated entities only, without the pass-through of lending service providers or other third parties.
The Indian government has banned more than 400 applications in the last 2 years, including TikTok, Garena’s Free Fire, PUBG, and Shopee.
Ban of 2020
The Indian government banned a number of Chinese apps in June 2020, citing concerns over national security and user privacy. The list of banned apps included popular ones like Tik Tok, WeChat, and UC Browser.
The government expressed concerns that the banned Chinese apps were collecting and transmitting user data to servers located in China. This data could potentially be accessed by the Chinese government, and the government feared that this could compromise the privacy and security of Indian users. The government also stated that the apps were engaging in activities that were prejudicial to India’s sovereignty, defense, and security.
The current ban on apps is similar to the ban of 2020.
