The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, in collaboration with the Survey of India, has directed Google to remove the Chinese chat app Ablo from its Play Store due to its erroneous depiction of India’s territorial boundaries. The app, which had over 10,000 downloads, misrepresented the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh while entirely omitting Lakshadweep Island from its map.
The government cited the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1990, which prescribes punishment for misrepresenting India’s boundaries with imprisonment of up to six months, fines, or both. The Ministry further highlighted that the app’s depiction jeopardizes India’s sovereignty and integrity. Invoking Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the notice mandated intermediaries to expeditiously remove or disable access to content violating Indian laws.
The issue was flagged during a meeting between MeitY and the Survey of India. The ministry has requested the Survey of India to initiate legal proceedings against apps guilty of such misrepresentations. Google has complied with the directive, as the Play Store page for Ablo now displays the message: “We’re sorry, the requested URL was not found on this server.” The app has also been removed from Apple’s App Store for users in India.
This action follows previous instances where the government addressed similar violations. In 2023, apps like World Map Quiz and MA 2 – President Simulator were flagged for incorrect border representations. In 2021, Twitter faced government action under the IT Rules for misrepresenting India’s map, and its then-India chief Manish Maheshwari was charged by Uttar Pradesh police.
The government’s decisive measures reinforce its commitment to safeguarding India’s territorial integrity and ensuring compliance with legal standards for digital platforms operating within the country.
