In the last couple of days, a report emerged that the Government of India is permanently banning 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok and Bytedance permanently from June 2021. The permanent ban has repercussions for PUBG Mobile India. TikTok, which was banned in June 2020, has decided to wind up its business in India. PUBG Mobile India, which was banned in September, is now coming to terms that the relaunch which was planned for March 2021 is over and its comeback to India might never happen. The launch of FAU-G (Fearless and United Guards) and the announcement of the permanent ban on 59 Chinese apps suggest that PUBG Mobile's fate could be similar.
Why has the Government of India announced that 59 Chinese apps will be banned permanently? The answer is the sovereignty and integrity of India. In June and September, when 59 and 118 Chinese apps including PUBG Mobile India were banned, the Government of India stated in the order that the apps were “prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order”. The ban was done under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act of 2000. The apps gave a written response to the Government of India. However, it has now emerged according to reports that the government is not satisfied with the response and explanation that were given by these companies. Hence, under Section 69A of IT Act 2000, the ban for these 59 apps is permanent now.
PUBG's Chinese connection?
The reason that PUBG Mobile India was banned is because of the presence of the Chinese entity of Tencent. When the ban was put in place, Tencent was removed as one of the entities and PUBG Mobile worked hard to ensure that there was no Chinese connection to the App. However, in a recent report carried on IGN India, a source close to the Government of India stated that the game was still being published in some ways in China and the removal is just a show. Thus, the Government of India announced that the ban on the game will not be lifted.
There is no public list as to which apps are next on the list when it comes to the permanent ban. However, with the launch of FAU-G (Fearless and United Guards) and with this latest step, PUBG Mobile India's worst nightmare might come true that the game might never come back to the country.
