Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), the much-anticipated battle royale game from Krafton, has gamers excited ahead of its pre-registrations and launch. Yet, even before its release, it's drawn sharp criticism from Indian politicians concerned about national security and data privacy.
Shortly after Krafton's confirmation, calls for a ban have emerged. Arunachal Pradesh MP Ninong Ering has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting an immediate prohibition on the game, labeling it a potential threat to Indian privacy and security.
Related: Battlegrounds Mobile India: New In-Game Map Revealed
Here's a closer look at the controversy surrounding ministers' demands to ban BGMI before its debut.
PUBG Mobile, a global battle royale hit, was banned in India in September 2020 amid data security concerns. Many Indian players turned to the Korean version (PUBG Mobile KR), accessible without VPNs. However, Krafton restricted access for non-Korea/Japan players starting July 1, 2021, cutting off Indian users who had been using APKs.
With BGMI's teaser, new logo, and pre-registrations underway, hopes were high for a compliant Indian version. But politicians, including former Union Minister and current Arunachal Pradesh MP Ninong Ering, see it differently. Ering warned of companies like Krafton, Tencent, and PUBG India Pvt. Ltd. attempting to skirt Indian laws by rebranding the game to harvest user data for foreign entities, including Chinese interests.
Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi echoed concerns on Twitter, viewing BGMI as Tencent's backdoor re-entry into India. While games don't need prior government approval, post-launch bans over data breaches remain possible, fueling fan anxiety.
Pre-registrations and planned APK size | Battlegrounds Mobile India 2021
