Government has issued notices to social media platformsTiktok and Helo along with a set of 21 questions threatening to ban these appsif it does not receive appropriate response, official sources said.

The action from Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity)follows complaint by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh affiliate Swadeshi JagranManch (SJM) to the Prime Minister, in which it alleged that the platforms arebeing used for anti-national activities.When contacted, Tiktok and Helo in ajoint statement said they have plans to invest USD 1 billion over the period ofnext three years to develop technology infrastructure and owns responsibilityof local community.

Meity has sought reply from TikTok and Helo on allegationthat these platforms have become “a hub of anti-national activities”, and hassought assurance that the data of Indian users are not being transferred atpresent and will not be transferred in future also “to any other foreigngovernment or any third party or private entity”, according to sources.