The IT Ministry of India has imposed a permanent ban on 59 Chinese Apps including famous applications like TikTok, WeChat, UC Browser and more. This decision comes after MeitY temporarily restricted these apps by June-end last year. PUBG Mobile was banned in the next round and hence, could face similar stringent actions.
According to reports from TOI, the government has “permanently banned” 59 Chinese applications. The entire list has not been revealed yet but it is mentioned that these are the same apps which were banned earlier by MeitY under the pretext of being “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order”.
The decision of permanent ban comes after IT Ministry expressed “dissatisfaction with the response of the companies to various queries raised by the government, including their data collection and data processing methods as well as those around data security and privacy.”
In the second round of this banwave, 118 other Chinese apps were banned in September and the list included famous battle-royale game PUBG Mobile. The ban was imposed for the same reason and hence, it is quite possible that PUBG Mobile could face the same fate in upcoming days.
PUBG Mobile has already announced its return in India with a new version, solely made for Indian audience. This relaunch has been on hiatus since a long time with no reason officially mentioned. Several reports have suggested that PUBG Mobile India could not be launched unless and until it receives a nod from MeitY and no formal talks between the Ministry and Krafton has taken place till date.
The story of PUBG Mobile return in India has been vague for a long time now. If governement decides to take similar actions against the next batch of applications that were banned, the future of PUBG Mobile India will become more uncertain.
