On April 11, the Gujarat High Court dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) suit filed by the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) which challenged the ban on PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), one of the most popular online multiplayer games in the world. Hearing the IFF’s petition, the two judge bench observed that they were "not satisfied that the scope of the present writ petition falls under the ambit of Public Interest Litigation”. It has a user base of almost 400 million worldwide, and up to hundred players can play simultaneously. Meanwhile in a separate PIL petition seeking a ban against PUBG, The Bombay High Court has issued a direction to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) to assess and review online game PUBG and take an action if any “objectionable content” is found. Gujarat HC order: Petition argues ban violates Article 19 During March, following a letter from the home department, several police departments of Gujarat issued notifications of banning PUBG based on the orders of Commissioners under Section 144 of the CrPC. The orders were issued on the ground that it results in violent behaviour amongst youngsters and affects their studies. According to several reports, teenagers who were found playing this online game were arrested under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. IFF’s petition argues that the ban is arbitrary and violates Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution. According to IFF’s petition, the ban is a disproportionate invasion of privacy due to the following grounds as…
