Free Fire App Ban: Singapore Talks With India, Seeks Clarity

Following the ban, the market value of the New York-listed Southeast Asian firm fell by $16 billion in a single day, and investors worry India could extend it to C’s e-commerce app, Shopee, which was recently launched. was launched in the country.

Sources, which include two Indian government officials, said Singapore had asked Indian officials why the app was targeted in a massive crackdown on Chinese apps, even though Si is headquartered in the wealthy city state.

Singapore had asked whether the app was “involuntarily banned,” said one of the Indian officials aware of the diplomatic initiative.

Two Indian sources said the concerns raised with India’s Ministry of External Affairs were forwarded to the Department of Information Technology (IT), which ordered the imposition of the ban.

Sources who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the discussions said they did not know how, and if, the Indian government planned to respond to Singapore’s concerns.

Spokesmen for the Singapore government and SEA did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment. India’s IT department, its external affairs ministry and the office of the chief government spokesperson also did not respond.

Government sources told Reuters that India this month blocked “Free Fire” among a group of 54 apps it believes were sending user data to servers in China.

China responded by expressing serious concern and said that it expects India to treat all foreign investors non-discriminatory.

In response to the ban, Si told Reuters at the time, “We do not transfer or store any data of our Indian users in China,” adding that it was the Singapore company that complied with Indian law.

The initial ban on 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok, in India came after a border clash with China in 2020, and this month it was increased to a total of 321, including Free Fire.

major market

India is the top market for Free Fire and one of its more premium versions, Free Fire Max, in terms of number of downloads, data from analytics firm SensorTower shows. But India made up just 2.6% of C’s mobile-game net sales in 2021.

Sources have said that the sea was saved by India’s embargo.

Alphabet Inc.’s Google told C and other companies about India’s ban, prompting the Singapore firm to ask the US search giant why its app was removed from the Play Store in India, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said. said.

In response, Google told C that it was following the orders of the Indian government and could not disclose more, the person said. Google did not respond to a request for comment.

C has also sent a letter to India’s Ministry of Technology seeking clarification. Two people with knowledge of the letter said it described the company as a “Singaporean” firm that did not park data in China.

C was founded in 2009 in Singapore as gaming publisher Garena and its founders are Singaporeans of Chinese descent.

The premium version of the game, Free Fire Max, is now the most downloaded mobile game in India, and is still available on Google’s India Play Store.