Online ethics should be followed, otherwise ban PUBG game: PIL filed by the 11-year-old boy

Mumbai, February 1: A PIL has been filed before the Bombay High Court by an 11-year-old boy from Mumbai, the petitioner's mother is appearing on his behalf and the PIL states that the popular online game PUBG promotes immoral conduct such as violence, murder, aggression, looting, gaming addiction and cyberbullying, thus should be banned. The PIL is likely to be mentioned before the bench headed by Chief Justice NH Patil today.

The PIL refers to the reports of Prime Minister Narendra Modi while interacting with students and parents, having come across a mother concerned about her son's addiction to online games. This is when PM Modi asked "Ye PUBG wala hai kya?" This drew a huge reaction from the crowd and the video went viral. However, the PIL states that it further raised concerns amongst parents about such online games.

India does not have an Online Ethics Reviews Committee to check such volatile and violence-oriented content. In fact, PUBG was banned in China for the same reasons as above by an Online Ethics Review Committee there, the PIL states.

"PUBG the online game has up to one hundred players parachute onto an island and scavenge for weapons and equipment to kill others while avoiding getting killed themselves. The available safe area of the game's map decreases in size over time, directing surviving players into tighter areas to force encounters. The last player or team standing wins the round." said petitioner in the PIL

After highlighting the concerns of parents, the PIL cited a World Health Organization (WHO) report about 'gaming disorder' and how it has an adverse impact on the child.

The PIL seeks directions are sought to the Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India to form an Online Ethics Review Committee to monitor such content from time to time.

After learning from media reports that PUBG was banned by the states of Gujarat and Karnataka lately, petitioner's mother who is also an advocate wrote to the State Education Minister and the Chief Minister seeking some action.