India is considering blocking 119 apps, primarily video and voice chat platforms linked to developers in China and Hong Kong, according to data disclosed by Google on the Lumen Database, a Harvard-run platform that tracks government content removal requests.

So far, only 15 of these apps have been blocked, while the rest remain available for download as of February 20, according to an investigation by Moneycontrol. A smaller number of affected apps also originate from Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

The directives are believed to have been issued under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which empowers the Indian government to block public access to online content in the interest of national security, sovereignty, and public order. Similar actions were taken against Chinese apps in the past, particularly following geopolitical tensions between India and China.

Three app developers impacted by the order told Moneycontrol that they had been notified by Google and were eager to cooperate with the Indian government to address the issue.

Google's disclosure on Lumen Database was published on February 18, but the listing has since been removed. It is unclear whether the delay in enforcing the ban on the remaining apps is due to technical or procedural reasons.

A government official, when asked for details, declined to comment, stating that orders under Section 69A are confidential. Meanwhile, a Google spokesperson clarified that the company follows strict policies when reviewing government takedown requests and removes content when required by local laws.