I was surprised when the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang ban in the US was announced. I found out that the US had security worries regarding the game. This concern prompted them to take action. Since Bytedance owns the game, the government implemented a special rule. As a result, many players could no longer play. The gaming community felt the impact of this change quickly.
Why Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Was Banned in the US
Bytedance Ownership and Data Privacy
When I heard about the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang ban, I wanted to know why. The government banned it because they worried about data privacy. ByteDance owns Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. People started asking questions about how ByteDance uses player data. The US government thought ByteDance might collect private information from American players. They were more worried because of China’s laws. These laws could make Chinese companies share data with their government.
I learned that how companies use data can be risky. Some risks are:
- Foreign governments watching people
- Identity theft or stalking
- Unfair treatment
- Stress and damage to someone’s reputation
A big data breach happened at Moontoon, which is part of ByteDance. Hackers leaked the game’s source code and employee information. They posted this on dark web forums. This made many people, including me, worry about our personal data when playing Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
US Government Actions
The US government did not act alone. They often take steps against apps owned by Chinese companies. The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang ban happened after several actions. The government signed orders and made new laws to keep the country safe. Here is a table that shows some important actions:
| Year | Action | Outcome |
| 2020 | Executive Order signed by Trump | Proposed ban on TikTok and similar apps for safety reasons. |
| 2021 | Order reversed by Biden | The ban did not happen, but worries stayed. |
| 2024 | PAFACA proposed | New law to fix security problems, which could lead to a ban. |
The TikTok ban also affected other ByteDance products. This included Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. The government thought these apps could collect data on Americans. So, they decided to ban Mobile Legends: Bang Bang in the US.
Other Apps Banned in the United States
The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang ban was not the first time the government banned apps from China. I looked up other cases and saw a pattern. Many states banned apps to protect people from spying and data stealing. Here is a table with some examples:
| State | Date | App Banned | Reason for Ban |
| Texas | Jan 31 | DeepSeek | Protecting important systems from spying by China. |
| New York | Feb 10 | DeepSeek | Worried about spying, data stealing, and tech theft. |
| Virginia | Feb 11 | DeepSeek | Danger to safety from China’s government. |
I noticed that the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang ban is part of a bigger trend. The government is more careful about apps from Chinese companies. They want to keep user data safe. They do not want foreign governments to use these apps to spy on Americans. The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang ban and other bans show how serious the government is about safety.
I saw that the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang ban affected players and the whole gaming community. Many people lost their favorite game. The ban made other companies think about how they use data. The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang ban became a warning for apps that do not follow strict privacy rules.
Key Dates: Banned in the US and Restoration
I remember when Mobile Legends: Bang Bang was banned in the US. Here is what happened:
- On January 19, 2025, the US banned Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. This happened because of a new law called the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.
- On January 21, 2025, the game came back after two days. The developers told everyone on Facebook that they could play again.
Player Accounts and Compensation
When the ban started, I could not get into my account. Many players felt upset and did not know what would happen to their progress. The developers said it was only a short break and shared this message:
After the game was back, the company gave players rewards in the game. I got some gifts as a way to say sorry for the trouble.
Industry Implications
The ban on this popular mobile esport game showed that security worries can change the video game world. Many people lost their favorite game for a while. I saw that this made other companies think more about keeping data safe. The ban also showed me that government rules can change how we play games in the future.
I saw that the US banned Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. The main reason is Bytedance owns the game. The government wanted to be careful about this.
| Reason for Ban | Description |
| Ownership | Bytedance owns Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and also TikTok. |
| Precautionary Measure | The US banned it to be safe while checking Chinese companies. |
I saw the US keeps checking Chinese tech companies.
- State attorneys general take action if firms do not keep data safe.
- This makes it tough for these companies in the US gaming world.
FAQ
Why did the US ban Mobile Legends: Bang Bang?
I saw the US ban Mobile Legends: Bang Bang because of national security and data privacy concerns. The government worried about how ByteDance handled player information.
How long did the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang ban last?
The ban lasted two days. I could not play from January 19, 2025, until January 21, 2025. The game returned after the developers fixed the issue.
Did the tiktok ban affect Mobile Legends: Bang Bang?
Yes, I noticed the tiktok ban made the government look closer at other ByteDance apps. This led to more rules for games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
