Reliance launches JioMeet to take on Zoom, can support up to 100 members

Other highlights include easy sign up with either mobile number or email ID, meeting in HD audio and video quality.

Amid growing calls for 'Made in India' digital tools, Reliance Jio has launched a free video-conferencing application called JioMeet, taking on US-based Zoom platform.
According to the JioMeet description on Google Play Store, the application can be used for 1:1 video calls and hosting meetings with up to 100 participants with enterprise-grade host controls.

Other highlights include easy sign up with either mobile number or email ID, meeting in HD audio and video quality.

The application can be used for creating instant meetings to chat with friends and also to schedule a meeting in advance and share meeting details with invitees.

JioMeet offers unlimited meetings per day and each meeting can go uninterrupted up to 24 hours.

The application can be used on Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, SIP/H.323 systems.

JioMeet has already been downloaded for over 10,000 times from Google Play Store.

Each meeting is password protected and the host can enable a "Waiting Room" to ensure no participant joins without permission, JioMeet said.

After Mitron app, Google takes down 'Delete China Apps' from Play Store

Remove China Apps gained popularity because of a growing anti-China sentiment due to Himalayan border dispute between India and China.

Google has pulled down the ‘Delete China Apps’ app from its application distribution platform Play Store for Android devices. Though the search giant did not detail the reason, it is learned that the app was taken down for violating Google Play Store’s Deceptive Behaviour Policy, according to a news report in TechCrunch.

Developed by Jaipur-based app development and web designing start-up OneTouchAppLabs, the Remove China Apps gained popularity in India largely because of a growing anti-China sentiment due to border dispute between India and China in the Pangong region of higher Himalayas. Launched in April, the app soon became the top free app and the top trending app on Google app store. It had crossed a million downloads within a short span of 15 days, and had a 4.8 star rating out of 5 star on the Play Store before it was taken down.

Earlier on May 2, Google also pulled down the Mitron app from the Play Store for not conforming to platform’s ‘Spam and Minimum Functionality Policy’.

Confirmed the suspension of the app, Google said that it takes down duplicate apps that copy content from other apps without adding any original content or value and create multiple apps with highly similar functionality, content, and user experience.

The Mitron app was seen as a TikTok alternative with Indian roots. It was one of the most downloaded apps on Google Play Store and had clocked more than five million downloads from Play Store.

The call to block Chinese apps and products has been growing on social media platform. Recently, Baba Ramdev tweeted a video that showed deleting TikTok and other apps with Chinese affiliation.

TikTok's rating improves amid growing criticism over 'violent content'

While the TikTok rating has improved, the app continues to face criticism for the content that appears on its platform.

TikTok's app rating on Google Play Store has elevated to 4.4 starts after it hits all-time low at 1.2 stars last week. The rating improved after Google filtered the app reviews and ratings in its effort to regularly clean up its app distribution platform. The short-video sharing platform, owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, recently faced a backlash in India after an internet war broke out between its influencers and YouTube content creators. The app's rating on Google Play Store reduced to 1.3 stars on May 20.

While the TikTok rating has improved, the app continues to face criticism for the content that appears on its platform. Recently, Member of Parliament and animal right activist, Maneka Sanjay Gandhi asked TikTok to remove content that appears to be violent in nature. She asked TikTok to ban accounts of all users who post such content, and share their details with concerned authorities for further action. She also raised questions on the video-sharing social networking service’s guidelines with regard to graphical content of violence towards animals.

On May 22, Maneka Sanjay Gandhi posted a message on Twitter alleging that the company refused to take down accounts of users who have been posting graphic videos of violence towards animals.

On May 23, TikTok in a tweet said, “Certain UGC videos that depicted animal cruelty were uploaded to our platform. We strongly condemn such content. We've removed these videos as they violated our community guidelines. Also, as per request, we have shared relevant user info with law enforcement agencies.”

TikTok alarm: Govt to directly approach Google, Apple to spike such apps

Govt decides to directly approach Google, Apple to spike such apps.

It is open season on all short video services as well as social media apps, which, according to the government and the judiciary, are supplying inappropriate content.

While those who support freedom of internet on Wednesday criticised banning of TikTok from Google and Apple stores as an infringement of right to choose, sources in the government said the steps were taken only after repeated warnings on weeding out foul content fell on deaf ears.

The road ahead is going to be a tough one for TikTok and other similar apps as now the government is directly working with both Apple and Google to ensure they do not get any further downloads.

“The government at the moment may not be able to stop the already existing users from posting on the app but it has ensured that they do not get any further downloads. The decision to ban TikTok was taken only after repeated requests to take down objectionable content did not get the desired results. Videos of young children and other similar content was still available on their portal,” said a senior official in the IT ministry.

ALSO READ: TikTok vanishes from Google Play Store after Madras HC ban, govt order

According to IT ministry officials, misuse of these portals has been immense, given their popularity in the smaller cities and towns. Many have become acquainted with technology in those areas in the recent past. Hence their susceptibility to organised online porn networks or fake news is thought to be more “Children as young as 10 are posting videos and there is no one to moderate them,” said an IT ministry official.

According to industry experts, essentially, there is an obligation on all service providers to ensure there is no illegal content on their servers or app according to the IT Act and TikTok was banned on basis of obscene content, which was prohibited under section 67 of the IT Act.

“While the order does set a precedent, it does not directly affect other similar apps as the relief sought was specific to TikTok. Right to free speech is not absolute and is subject to public order, morality. Though the order does set a precedent, all future cases shall be decided on a case-to-case basis and individual facts,” said Salman Waris, managing partner at TechLegis Advocates & Solicitors.

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