Persistence defines India’s stance on TikTok as the government continues to uphold its ban on the popular Chinese social media platform nearly five years after its initial implementation. The prohibition, which affected TikTok and 58 other Chinese-origin apps, was enacted on June 29, 2020, following violent border clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley, reflecting the government’s commitment to protecting national sovereignty and security.
Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has categorically stated that there is “no plan or proposal under consideration to revoke the ban,” effectively silencing rumors that periodically surface about TikTok’s potential return to the Indian digital landscape. These rumors have occasionally gained traction following technical glitches that temporarily allowed access to TikTok’s website, particularly during incidents reported in September 2022, when network-level misconfigurations briefly made some banned apps accessible. Despite recent reports in Indian media suggesting a possible comeback, TikTok’s company spokesperson has confirmed continued inaccessibility in India.
The ban, initially temporary but made permanent in January 2021, was implemented under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. Security agencies had raised red flags about TikTok collecting user data and transmitting it outside India without proper authorization, potentially compromising national security. India’s Supreme Court further solidified this position by upholding the constitutionality of related regulations in January 2025. The situation resembles how collecting societies worldwide monitor and protect rights across digital platforms to prevent unauthorized use.
Before the prohibition, TikTok boasted over 200 million users in India, representing its largest global user base. The ban’s impact extended beyond casual users to considerably affect content creators and small businesses that had built livelihoods around the platform. Many creators lost significant revenue streams that had previously allowed them to monetize their content through brand partnerships and in-app promotions. Local vendors who benefited from foot traffic generated by video creators reported notable business declines following the app’s removal. In the aftermath, several domestic alternatives like Moj and Chingari emerged to fill the void left by TikTok’s departure.
India’s digital counterstrike against Chinese apps represents a strategic move beyond conventional military responses, prioritizing digital sovereignty amid ongoing geopolitical tensions with China. Despite brief technical anomalies that have occasionally allowed website access, government sources consistently label any news about TikTok’s unblocking as “false and misleading,” reinforcing that the ban remains firmly in place with no imminent plans for reversal.
