In a shocking turn of events, PUBG MOBILE is among 118 more Chinese apps blocked by the government amid new tension over Chinese provocation. The move was taken in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India and security, the government released a statement.
According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the mobile game has been prohibited under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, on grounds that “they are engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order”.
“This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety, security and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace,” the statement said.
This move, it said, would safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. “
The ministry mentioned it had received many complaints from various sources including several reports about inappropriate usage of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India.
The home ministry’s cybercrime centre also recommended blocking these “malicious apps”, the government said.
The statement refers to major concerns, staggered by various public representatives in parliament and outside. It said there had been a strong uproar in the public space to take strict action against Apps “that harm India’s sovereignty as well as the privacy of our citizens”.