The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in coordination with the Survey of India (SoI), has directed Google to take down the social networking app ‘Ablo’ from its Play Store for violating national mapping standards. The app, reportedly originating from China and available on the Play Store with over 10,000 downloads, has been found to misrepresent India’s internationally recognized territorial boundaries.
What Triggered the Action?
The government’s notice stated that ‘Ablo’ incorrectly displays the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, and completely omits Lakshadweep from the Indian map. Authorities flagged this depiction as a serious violation of Indian law, specifically citing the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1990, which deems such cartographic inaccuracies as punishable offenses — up to six months of imprisonment, fines, or both.
MeitY also invoked Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which obligates online intermediaries like Google to swiftly take down content deemed illegal under Indian laws.
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Sovereignty and Integrity at Stake
In its directive to Google, MeitY emphasized the risk posed by inaccurate representations of India’s borders, stating: “The subject map in the ‘Ablo’ app depicts the external boundaries of India inaccurately, thereby jeopardizing the sovereignty and integrity of the country.”
The ministry further highlighted the 2015 Supreme Court ruling in Shreya Singhal vs. Union of India, which requires digital intermediaries to act upon valid government orders without delay.
Legal Coordination and Further Action
The issue came to light following a recent consultation between MeitY and the Survey of India, during which the concerns over digital map misrepresentation were raised. MeitY has since recommended that the SoI pursue legal proceedings under relevant statutes against platforms publishing distorted maps.
While the ‘Ablo’ app remains listed on Google Play as of the latest update, it is no longer available on Apple’s App Store. The Indian government has asked Google and the app’s developers for a status update on compliance and expects “early action.”
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Not the First Offense
This is not the first time the Indian government has cracked down on digital platforms over map violations. In 2023, apps like World Map Quiz and MA 2 – President Simulator faced scrutiny for misrepresenting Indian borders.
In 2021, Twitter India became embroiled in a controversy when its career site, Tweep Life, displayed Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh outside India’s territory. The error led to a police complaint in Uttar Pradesh against the platform’s then India chief, Manish Maheshwari. The map has since been corrected.
The latest action against ‘Ablo’ underscores the Indian government’s firm stance on national integrity in the digital space, particularly on matters involving cartographic representation.