Mobile gaming has seen a surge in popularity worldwide, including in India. As these games have advanced in terms of graphics, user interface, and overall experience, they have also begun collecting more user data. A recent report reveals that some of the most data-intensive applications include Call of Duty Mobile, Candy Crush Saga, and Carrom Pool: Disc Game, which collect up to 17 out of 32 different data points such as media, contacts, and location.

Cybersecurity firm Surfshark has ranked other popular games like Ludo King and Subway Surfers 38th and 7th respectively, based on their “data hungriness”. Subway Surfers, for instance, collects an average of 9.3 data points, including contact and geographic information.

Out of 50 popular mobile gaming applications in India, 38 reportedly use or exchange user data for third-party advertising. Three games even track the specific user location. Apps that gather precise location data can potentially reveal private information about users, such as their home addresses, workplaces, daily routines, or frequently visited locations.

According to Gabriele Racaityte-Krasauske, a spokesperson for Surfshark, many gamers unknowingly grant permission to share their personal data, often without knowing where it ends up. “In our global analysis of 510 mobile gaming apps, we revealed that the vast majority use activity tracking across other companies’ apps and websites and have the ability to transfer data to third parties, which might include tech companies, advertising, or data brokers,” the spokesperson added.

This collected data can be used for various purposes beyond gaming, such as market research or targeted advertising. The top 10 apps in terms of data use include 8 Ball Pool, Subway Surfers, and Gardenscapes. According to the report, the games with the least privacy invasion were Traffic Rider, Mini Militia-War.io, and Among Us, which collect as few as 7 data points. Out of the 510 most played games across 60 countries, 492 collect user information, and 446 permit monitoring across the apps and websites of other businesses.

Source: Jagran English