BGMI India Court Case 2025: Krafton Faces Privacy and Security Issues
By Gadget Newz | April 2025
Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), India’s highest downloaded battle royale game, is once more under the scanner of the law. After the recovery from a big ban in 2022, BGMI finds itself in a new legal hurdle in 2025. A case pending in the Delhi High Court has reignited the debates around user privacy, national security, and the effect of online gaming on children.
BGMI Launch
It was banned in September 2020 by the government of India for fears of Indian data being uploaded to Chinese servers. Krafton, the game’s South Korean developer, released BGMI in July 2021 with features localized for the country, Indian servers, and without official affiliation with Tencent.
But in July 2022, BGMI was again taken down from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store at the government’s behest. It made a conditional comeback in May 2023, subject to tight regulations and constant government monitoring.
The 2025 Court Case: What’s the Issue?
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in March 2025 asking for a permanent ban on BGMI. The petition has serious allegations such as:
Allegations that Krafton might still be sharing user data with China-based servers or entities, which contravenes India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
Rumors that BGMI further fuels over-gaming addiction among children, which affects their mental health and studies.
Continuing concerns that the game is a threat to national security since it was previously linked to Tencent and backend infrastructure.
The Delhi High Court directed notices to Krafton, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for a response and technical scrutiny.
Krafton’s Official Response
Krafton has strongly refuted the claims. The firm made it clear that BGMI user information is hosted on Indian and Singapore-based servers and that no information is shared with unauthorized foreign parties. Krafton further highlighted the strict parental controls in place, including limits on gameplay time for children, login verification systems, and in-game notifications.
The firm has filed technical reports and transparency reports to demonstrate compliance with Indian laws.
Government Involvement
The Indian government has remained silent so far but will likely scrutinize Krafton’s infrastructure and data handling habits. MeitY has been instructed to perform a technical audit of the backend of the game. The report that is produced may determine whether BGMI will be further banned or allowed to continue in operation under tighter regulations.
Timeline of Events
September 2020 – PUBG Mobile banned in India
July 2021 – BGMI launched as India-specific version
July 2022 – BGMI taken off app stores once again
May 2023 – BGMI back on under provisional approval
March 2025 – Court case filed at Delhi High Court
April 2025 – Court sends notice to Krafton and government agencies
What’s at Stake
If the court upholds Krafton, BGMI might be banned again or removed from Indian app stores indefinitely. This would not only affect Krafton’s business but the whole mobile eSports value chain in India, including streamers, content creators, and event organizers. Conversely, if Krafton is declared compliant, this might result in a more stable future for international games in India, but subject to stricter government regulation.
Some FAQs
Q: Is BGMI banned in India today?
A: No. The game is out right now. The court case is ongoing.
Q: Why is BGMI facing legal pressure once again?
A: The case alleges the game is transmitting data to Chinese-linked parties, damaging children’s mental well-being, and endangering national security.
Q: What laws are implicated in this case?
A: The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and IT Rules, 2021.
Q: Has Krafton issued a response to the accusations?
A: Yes. Krafton has rejected all accusations and provided technical audits and transparency reports to the government.
Q: Will the game be banned once again?
A: That depends on the outcome of the government’s audit and the court verdict.
Q: How is Krafton safeguarding children?
A: Some of the features include daily limits of gameplay, parental controls, reminders of time spent, and content moderation systems.
Q: How will this affect eSports in India?
A: A ban would be a huge setback for Indian eSports, which depends on BGMI for tournaments and income.
Q: Are other apps likely to be subject to similar legal action?
A: Possibly. The ruling could provide a precedent for the regulation of gaming and data-intensive apps in India in the future.
Final Thoughts
The BGMI court case is more than a battle between Krafton and the Indian judiciary in court. It is an emblem of the greater movement towards data sovereignty, digital accountability, and safeguarding minors on the internet. Regardless of whether BGMI stays or gets banned once again, the case has the potential to redefine how foreign apps exist in the Indian technology ecosystem.
Keep following Gadget Newz for all the latest on BGMI, digital policies, and the gaming industry in India.
