On September 2, 2020, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) announced a ban on 118 Chinese mobile apps, including PUBG, the battle royale video game against the backdrop of mounting tensions between India and China in Ladakh. The government of India has taken the step citing data privacy concerns and threat to national security and sovereignty of the cyber space. The government invoked its powers under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which deals with the power to issue directions for blocking for public access of any information through any computer resource, and relevant provisions under IT Rules 2009 to block these apps.
The game has been in controversy since its penetration into the Indian market in 2018. The game has been removed from Google Play store and Apple App store but users who have the game downloaded on their phones are still able to play the game it.
However, just two days after the PUBG ban, nCore Games announced a new Indian version of PUBG, called FAU-G or Fearless And United: Guards, which is said to be released soon. FAU-G game is being developed under the mentorship of Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar App campaign. FAU-G, as the name suggests, will lesson players about the sacrifices of Indian soldiers, and 20 per cent of its net revenue will be donated to BharatKeVeer trust.
This ban provided several Indian game developers with an opportunity to bring desi alternatives to the game, just like what happened to TikTok when the short-video platform was banned in June this year in the country. It was replaced by Chingari, Mitron, Roposo, Moj, and many more.
Giving strong reasons to ban the game, the ministry said that it had received complaints regarding the misuse of apps available on Android and IOS for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data to servers, located outside India. Since compilation of such data, its mining, and profiling by elements hostile to national security, ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, the matter required emergency measures. The government also assured that the move would safeguard the interests of millions of Indian mobile and internet users, will motivate the Indian ecosystem for start-ups, and will help them go global. Moreover, the government should also ensure that companies, receiving Chinese investment and using Chinese technology, safeguard data of India’s citizens.