Question : Security of Personal Data on Koo App

Will the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of the Chinese investment in the parent company of the Koo app and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(b) whether the Government has taken note of the fact that the sudden rise of Koo app has sparked privacy and security concerns over its collection of personal data in view of the Chinese investment in the company and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(c) whether the Government has contemplated any action to prevent the increase in usage of the said app in view of the Chinese investment and if so, the details thereof?

a): Under the extant FDI Policy of Government of India, 100% investment through automatic route was allowed for IT companies till notification of Press Note 3 of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry dated 17th April 2020. Koo App has been developed by an Indian IT company prior to such notification.

(b) and (c): Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched Digital India AatmaNirbhar App Innovation Challenge on July 2 2020. The challenge was open for participation by Indian entrepreneurs and startups only. Koo App was shortlisted as an awardee for the said AatmaNirbhar App Challenge under the Social Media Category as it was an eligible participant to be classified as domestic company as per the extant FDI policy. As per the details provided by the company that has developed the app, it has been indigenously developed and app data is completely stored in India in its servers located in Mumbai. Being an Indian company with operations within the country, it has to adhere to all the existing data privacy and security regulations of the Government.

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