Govt’s Tough Stance: Harsh Penalties for Google’s Removal of Bharatiya Apps from Play Store

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 4th March.  There is growing momentum behind Google’s decision to remove Bharatiya apps. Recently, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav voiced his vehement opposition to Google removing certain apps from the Play Store due to government interference. He said that in response to this action, the government has called a meeting with the tech giant and will not permit the delisting of apps.

According to sources, the Union Minister has said, “The government is taking a tough stance on the delisting of some apps by Google from the Play Store and it will not allow the apps to be delisted.

IAMAI ने #Google से आग्रह किया है कि वह #भारतीय ऐप्स को प्ले स्टोर से डिलीट न करे…#LatestNews #TrendingNow pic.twitter.com/swN2r9zj2H

— Nedrick News (@nedricknews) March 2, 2024

 

Google takes a 30% commission on purchases made within apps

This comes after Google issued warnings to remove apps that don’t adhere to its Play Store billing policies. As per a report published in Mint, Google requires developers to utilize its proprietary payment services and remit a 30% commission for any in-app transactions, encompassing the sale of digital goods and subscription services.

“India is very clear, our policy is very clear,” declared the Minister of IT. Our start-ups will receive the necessary protection. Google has already received my call. The app developers who were taken off the list have already been contacted by me; we will get together the following week. We cannot permit this. Delisting of this kind is not acceptable.

IAMAI informed Google of this

Furthermore, Google has been urged not to remove apps from its Google Play Store by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). Google Play should refrain from delisting any apps, according to a statement from IAMAI. “The affected members of IAMAI are of the view that Google should not take any punitive action during the pendency of the case,” stated IAMAI. “A substantive hearing of the case is pending before the Supreme Court of India.”

IAMAI urges #Google to refrain from delisting #Indian apps from Play Storehttps://t.co/RCasKODm3Y pic.twitter.com/h1GKkcKNqG

— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) March 2, 2024

“We gave more than three years,” says Google

A small percentage of businesses—including well-known ones—have opted not to pay Play Store service fees for in-app purchases, giving them an unfair advantage over the vast majority of developers who abide by the rules, according to a blog post from Google. In addition to providing developers with an extra three weeks of grace after the recent Supreme Court order, Google claimed to have given them more than three years to adapt to the policy.

“We are taking the necessary steps to ensure that our policies are followed,” stated Google, “after giving these developers more than three years to prepare, including the three weeks following the Supreme Court order.” Just as we do with any kind of global policy violation, apply the same across the ecosystem.

Google eliminated these applications

The Google Play Store has deleted Info Edge (India) Ltd.’s mobile applications, which included naukri.com, 99 acres.com, and shiksha.com, according to a statement made on Saturday. This occurs one day after Google stopped offering the service. Due to a disagreement over fee payments, it had begun removing some apps—including well-known matrimony apps—from its Play Store in Bharat. Ten businesses in the nation, many of them well-known ones, have reportedly avoided paying fees while still using the platform, according to Google.

Unannounced modifications

In a BSE filing, Info Edge (India) Ltd stated, “We would like to inform you that Google has removed the company’s mobile applications from the Google Play Store: 99 Acres, Naukri Recruiter, NaukriGulf Job Search App, and Naukri.com Job Search App.”

In addition, Google has eliminated a large number of third-party organizations’ and companies’ mobile applications from the Play Store. Due to Google’s lack of appropriate and sufficient notice, the company was taken aback by this action.

The gathering is scheduled for next week

Despite the objections of the apps and well-known start-up founders, Google began removing certain apps—including well-known matrimony apps—from its Play Store in Bharat on Friday due to a disagreement over service charge payment. Vaishnav stated after giving the matter careful thought, “India is very clear, our policy is very clear. “Our startups will receive the necessary safeguards.

The Minister stated that in order to settle the conflict, the government will meet with Google and the app developers who were taken off the list the following week.

I’ve already called Google, Vaishnav asserted. We will meet with the app developers who were delisted next week; I have already given them a call. Such a delisting is not acceptable and should not be permitted.