ShareIt is a cross-platform-file-sharing, content streaming and gaming platform launched in the year 2012. It was initially a part of Lenovo’s apps division but was transferred to a Singapore-based company named Smart Media4U Technology, in 2015. ShareIt started as a peer-to-peer file sharing platform. However, it later integrated entertainment features to allow users to watch videos. Subsequently, ShareIt also introduced a separate gaming center to enable users to play HTML5 games and gaming videos.
ShareIt is known for its fast offline file transfers. It also streams premium content in collaboration with multiple OTT platforms. ShareIt has a global user base of 1.8 billion. The platform became popular in India in 2013, with its user base in the country growing to 400 million by 2020. ShareIt was particularly popular in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in India due to its localised vernacular content.
Ban in India
ShareIt was banned in June 2020 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Government of India. The app was among the 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok, UC Web and Baidu, that were banned in India. ShareIt and 58 other apps were banned under Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public, which is a part of Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
ShareIt and other Chinese apps, as per the Government of India, were engaging in activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of state and public order. The government also said that it had received several complaints and reports from various sources about the misuse of these apps to steal and surreptitiously transfer users’ data in an unauthorised manner to servers located outside India.
The move to block ShareIt and 58 other apps was also taken in response to a recommendation for blocking them by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Furthermore, the Chinese links of the apps, including ShareIt, played an important role in the ban, following the tension between India and China in the aftermath of the border clashes in Galwan Valley.
Earlier in 2017, India’s Ministry of Defence had expressed security concerns against 42 apps, including ShareIt, and directed armed forces personnel to uninstall all the red-flagged apps from their devices. ShareIt had denied the allegations at that point of time.
Current Status
ShareIt continues to be banned in India. It is not available on Play Store and App Store in the country. However, unverified reports claim that ShareIt can be downloaded illegally through unofficial methods like APK files.
Santosh Kumar is a Professional SEO and Blogger, With the help of this blog he is trying to share top 10 lists, facts, entertainment news from India and all around the world.
