Krafton in Legal Trouble! BGMI Maker Accused of Selling Indian User Data on Telegram: Here's the Full Scoop

Krafton India, the company behind Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), is embroiled in a legal dispute over alleged data privacy violations. A Maharashtra resident, Santosh Torane, has accused Krafton of selling users' private data on Telegram. This case has now reached the Bombay High Court, with a hearing set for April 15, 2025.

Torane filed a First Information Report (FIR) on September 5, 2024, at Akluj Police Station. The complaint names four Krafton executives: WooYol Lim, Jitendra Bansal, Yoonal Soni, and Wooyol Shalom. According to the FIR, Krafton allegedly sold personal user data for around Rs 2,000 per individual without obtaining consent. This act is claimed to breach a service agreement dated August 2, 2021.

BGMI in Hot Water! Krafton India Accused of Selling User Data

Photo Credit: BGMI

Legal Charges and Allegations

The allegations against Krafton fall under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act. These include Section 120-B for criminal conspiracy and Section 420 for cheating. Additionally, Sections 72, 72A, and 85 of the IT Act are cited for unauthorized sharing and misuse of personal data.

Before approaching the court, Torane sought help from local police and the Solapur Superintendent of Police in 2023. However, his complaints were reportedly ignored. Consequently, he took legal action. On August 28, 2024, the Judicial Magistrate First Class in Malshiras instructed police to conduct a detailed investigation into this "grave concern."

Krafton's Response to Accusations

Krafton has denied any wrongdoing in response to these allegations. In a statement, they said: "At KRAFTON, the protection of personal data is of utmost importance to us, and we are committed to upholding the highest standards of data security. As the matter is currently sub judice, we believe it is best to wait for the legal process to conclude after which we will provide any necessary clarifications."

Justices Sarang V. Kotwal and Dr. Neela Gokhale will preside over the case. They have combined related petitions for a joint hearing.

Additional Concerns Regarding BGMI

BGMI has faced criticism for requiring new users to grant gallery access before using the app. Unlike other applications that allow users to skip such permissions initially, BGMI restricts access until permission is granted. Times Now Tech previously reached out to Krafton for comments on this issue but received no response.

The ongoing legal proceedings highlight significant concerns about data privacy practices within mobile applications like BGMI in India. As this case unfolds in court next year, it underscores the importance of adhering to strict data protection norms.

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