Synopsis
Krafton, the South Korean game publisher, has firmly denied allegations of data breaches and unauthorized sale of user information in India, asserting that its internal investigation found no evidence to support these claims.Key Takeaways
- Krafton denies data breach allegations.
- No evidence found in internal investigation.
- User filed a complaint regarding personal data sales.
- Legal proceedings ongoing in Maharashtra.
- Krafton has invested significantly in the Indian gaming sector.
Seoul/New Delhi, April 15 (NationPress) - The South Korean game publisher Krafton on Tuesday dismissed allegations concerning data breaches and the unauthorized sale of user data in India, asserting that its internal investigation revealed no supporting evidence for such accusations.
This statement comes amidst ongoing legal actions in Maharashtra, where a user of the mobile game Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) lodged a police complaint in September against Krafton India Pvt. Ltd. and several executives, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Reports indicate that the user accused the local subsidiary of breaching a user agreement by allegedly leaking and selling player personal information on Telegram for approximately Rs 2,000 (about US$23) per user. The High Court of Bombay was set to conduct a hearing on the matter later that day.
In a statement issued to Yonhap News Agency, Krafton’s headquarters in South Korea asserted that it had undertaken an internal inquiry into the situation and found the allegations to be unfounded.
"We have thoroughly examined the case and confirmed that the allegations regarding data leakage and monetization are without merit," a company representative stated.
Krafton also pointed out that this issue was initially raised in 2023 by the same individual and was previously addressed.
"This matter was first brought to light in 2023, and we resolved it by demonstrating that the claims were baseless. The same individual lodged a new complaint in 2024 with identical claims," the company remarked.
Krafton India Pvt. Ltd. has submitted two writ petitions to the Bombay High Court regarding this case.
A writ petition is a formal request submitted to a court in India to contest the legitimacy of a law enforcement or legal process.
Krafton has made significant strides in the Indian gaming industry in recent years, investing over $170 million as of November 2024. This includes the recent acquisition of a controlling stake in Nautilus Mobile, the Pune-based studio behind the well-known "Real Cricket" franchise, for $14 million.
To foster local talent, Krafton also launched the India Gaming Incubator initiative in 2023, offering mentorship and grants up to $150,000 to promising game developers.
