Action directed against ‘EA Sports FIFA’ for the wrong depiction of the Map of India

The Survey of India has directed the Telangana Government to initiate action against EA Sports FIFA, which is an online video game, for the incorrect depiction of India’s map. The direction says that a complaint was received on 5^th April regarding the incorrect depiction of India’s map in the game of the gaming company EA Sports FIFA.

Evidently, in the game by EA Sports FIFA, the entire area of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and UT of Ladakh, Lakshadweep Island and the Andaman and Nicobar islands missing. The external boundaries of India along Indian Territories of UT of Jammu & Kashmir and UT of Ladakh have also been erroneously depicted in the said game.

The order says that this jeopardises the integrity and sovereignty of India.

The Survey of India has now directed the Telangana Government to take appropriate action, since law and order is a State subject and inform the Ministry of Home Affairs and the complainant of the said action.

The issue of the game by EA Sports FIFA depicting the incorrect Indian map was first flagged by Twitter user Utkarsh who goes by the handle @TripathiSZN

On 5^th April, he had tweeted, tagging EA Sports FIFA about the depiction of the incorrect Indian map in the game. He was then advised to lodge a complaint and the action taken by the Survey of India seems to be a direct consequence of the complaint lodged on 5^th April by another individual, based on the revelation by Utkarsh.

Once Utkarsh tweeted, several others too came forward.

Many said that they have been flagging the issue of the distorted map for a long time but EA Sports FIFA does not seem to pay attention.

‘The objective behind depicting the distorted map was not to hurt the sentiments of the people, but to make them comprehend the distortion made by the advertisers.’