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Something that's not clear from OP: What does "banned" imply?

I'm assuming at least Google and Apple are demanded to take them off their stores. What are are consequences if they don't?

What about users? Would you be in trouble of LE caught you red-handed using a banned app?

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No, these bans (as I understand it) usually happen under IT Act that apply to service providers and ISPs, not citizens. For example, TikTok is blocked by ISPs and taken off from app stores, and TikTok might itself be fined if they continue to provide service but it’s is not illegal for a citizen to use it. There are very few cases where it’s illegal for a citizen to access some things, but those things are illegal just about everywhere.

That would make no sense for Element. That client it not bound to any specific network - you have to specify which matrix server you connect to when using it, so ISPs can't control that without some active probing of all possible endpoints.

Thats the beauty (/s) of Indian IT legislation, it doesn't have to make sense technically. It just needs to make sense to ministers who have no idea how the Internet works. It was funny a decade ago, but now it has become frustrating.

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