PUBG Mobile has recently updated its Privacy Policy for Indians, amidst the recent ban concerns regarding Chinese owned apps in India. Recently, PUBG Mobile and other 274 apps came under the radar of the Indian government for a potential threat to data security of the Indian users. Recently, India banned another 47 Chinese apps after they were found to be clones of some of the 59 apps that were previously banned in June.
Players who opened the game after the daily reset on 29th July received the following message which displayed the change. The message showed two options – ‘I AM NOT A USER IN INDIA’ or ‘CONTINUE‘. Indian players had to click on the ‘CONTINUE’ option.
What was the change in the privacy policy for Indians?
The major change PUBG Mobile claimed with this updated privacy policy for Indians was that data of Indian players will be stored on servers based in India, thus nullifying the danger of overseas data transfer. Also, PUBG Mobile now has support, engineering, and other teams located inside India.
Our servers are located in India (in the case of users located in India only), Singapore, Hong Kong SAR and the United States. In addition, our support, engineering and other teams located in our offices around the world (including the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) (for the purpose of this privacy policy, this term excludes Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR), India (in the case of users located in India only), the United States and Hong Kong SAR) will have access to your information.
PUBG MOBILE OFFICIAL TEAM
Who can access players’ private data according to PUBG Mobile privacy policies?
The PUBG Mobile privacy policy says that there are only four instances, where a user’s private data can be shared or used. Let’s take a look at them:
1) Third party apps
Third parties that provide services in support of the Game Services, including providers of cloud services that process or back up information identified in this privacy policy on their servers for the purpose of providing the Game Services (including the sharing of in-game photos on WeChat, Facebook, Vkontakte, QQ, Twitter, Google Play, Game Center or LINE (as applicable), for the purpose of processing customer support ticket IDs and support communication, for the purpose of providing marketing and advertisements and monitor the success of our marketing and advertising programs, for the purpose of providing you with updates and information regarding the Game Services, for the purpose of arranging e-sports events, and payment processing services (including security and fraud detection). All companies providing services for us are prohibited from retaining, using, or disclosing your personal information for any purpose other than providing us with their services in support of the Game Services.
2) Companies under Tencent Corporate group
Companies within the Tencent corporate group who process your personal information in order to operate the Game Services. All related group companies may only use your personal information in accordance with this privacy policy.
3) Regulatory & Judicial authorities
Regulators and judicial authorities and law enforcement agencies. There are circumstances in which we are legally required to disclose information, including to comply with a legal obligation or processes, enforce our terms, address issues relating to security or fraud, or protect our users.
4) Future business partners/ owners of Tencent
A third party that acquires all or substantially all of us or our business. If we sell or buy any business, undergo a merger, enter into a partnership, or sell some or all of our assets we may disclose your information to the prospective buyer of such business. Under these circumstances, we will always require the prospective buyer to comply with this privacy policy.
Will this stop PUBG Mobile from being banned in India?
While the Indian government is still looking over the 275 Chinese and Chinese owned apps including PUBG Mobile & Supercell games, this will surely tighten the data security measures for Indian players. Interestingly, PUBG Mobile having to update the privacy policy for Indian players surely indicates that there were previously vulnerabilities present. As per China’s data-sharing norms, Chinese companies had to share data with the home country based server irrespective of where they operate. So how will that play out with this updated privacy policy, we don’t know yet! However, only time will tell whether the popular Battle Royale will be banned or not. So, we wait for further information regarding this from the Government with crossed fingers!
That’s all we got for today as PUBG Mobile updated its privacy policy for Indian players. What is your opinion on this? Let us know in the comment section below.
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