India orders removal of Ablo: Here is everything you need to know about this app
The Indian government has directed Google to remove the Chinese video chat app Ablo from its Play Store. The reason behind this action is that the app displayed an incorrect map of India, misrepresenting the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, and omitting the Lakshadweep Islands. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), along with the Survey of India (SoI), issued a notice stating that such misrepresentation jeopardises the sovereignty and integrity of India. The notice cited the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1990, which makes the incorrect depiction of India's map a punishable offence, and Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which mandates online platforms to remove content that violates Indian laws. While Ablo was still available on the Google Play Store at the time of the notice, it had already been removed from Apple's App Store in India.advertisementAblo was a social video chat app developed by MassiveMedia, a Belgium-based company that was later acquired by Match Group — the same parent company behind Tinder and OkCupid. The app catered to a global audience and focused on helping users connect with strangers around the world through live video and instant messaging.What made Ablo unique was its built-in translation feature. The app could translate chats and even voice conversations in real time, letting users from different countries communicate seamlessly in their native languages. It gained popularity for promoting cultural exchange and spontaneous conversations across borders. The app was especially popular among young users who were curious to meet people from other countries and explore global perspectives.
Ablo had a colourful, travel-inspired interface, and often marketed itself as a 'passport to the world.' It allowed users to choose any country they wanted to travel to virtually and connect with people there instantly. While it was not as mainstream as WhatsApp or Instagram, Ablo carved out a niche among users looking for something more exploratory and spontaneous in their social experience.advertisementAt the time of its removal from the Play Store in India, the app had over 10,000 downloads — a small but active user base. Its features, however, became secondary in light of the serious issue flagged by Indian authorities — the incorrect representation of India's map.This is not the first time digital platforms have faced action for misrepresenting India's map. In 2023, apps like World Map Quiz and MA 2 - President Simulator were flagged for similar reasons. The Survey of India issued a notice to Google regarding the app World Map Quiz, which depicted the territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh incorrectly. Similarly, the app MA 2 – President Simulator was also flagged for misrepresenting India's map. In 2021, Twitter faced backlash for displaying a distorted map of India, showing Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh as separate countries. The Indian government took action, and the map was corrected after protests. In 2023, WhatsApp apologised and removed a video that included an incorrect map of India after being called out by a Union minister. In 2025, Google and Apple removed the offline navigation app MAPS.Me from their stores after the Survey of India issued a takedown notice for incorrectly depicting parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as outside the territory of India.The Indian government has stringent laws regarding the depiction of its territorial boundaries. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1990, makes the incorrect depiction of India's map a punishable offence, which can lead to imprisonment of up to six months, a fine, or both. Additionally, the Information Technology Act, 2000, requires online platforms to remove content that violates Indian laws. The Supreme Court's 2015 ruling in the Shreya Singhal v. Union of India case also mandates that platforms must comply with valid government orders.
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