Govt bans 14 apps used by Pakistan-linked terror groups
As many as 14 apps, which were being used by Terrorists to communicate with their supporters and on-ground workers (OGW) , have been blocked.
The central government of India has blocked as many as 14 messenger mobile applications, which were reportedly being used by terror groups in Jammu and Kashmir to receive and send secret messages to and from Pakistan. According to reports the terrorists were using these apps to communicate with their supporters and on-ground workers (OGW) in Jammu and Kashmir.
The central government took this step on the recommendation of defence forces, security, intelligence and investigation agencies. The list of apps includes Crypviser, Enigma, Safeswiss, Wickrme, Mediafire, Briar, BChat, Nandbox, Conion, IMO, Element, Second line, Zangi, Threema among others.
According to sources, these apps did not have representatives in India and when contacted they could not be contacted for seeking information as mandated by Indian laws. Moreover, the agencies could not find office to contact in India when they tried to contact the app management on various occasions.
These apps reportedly provided users anonymity and their features made it tough to resolve entities associated with them. Later, these apps were found to have been helping terrorists and their affiliates to engage in activities by the Ministry of home affairs from different agencies.
These apps were spreading terror propaganda and inciting youths in Jammu & Kashmir. So, after investigating them, the government has blocked them under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the official added.
Similarly, over the past few years, the government has been trying to dent the communication network of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. The apps that have been blocked have servers in different countries, which make them tough to trace and they have heavy encryption, making them hard to intercept.
The apps were found to have been downloaded on mobile phones recovered from terrorists killed in operations or during an investigation on multiple occasions, said a senior government official involved in probing terror-related cases. Also, a number of OGWs arrested had at least one of these apps on their phone.
It was revealed that these apps were used to amplify the agenda of Pakistan-based terror outfits.
Ms Kalinga