Google has removed some of India‘s most important applications from the Play Store over its payment issue, sparking a fresh row between the Indian government and Google.
According to a foreign news agency, Google on Friday removed popular Indian matrimonial app ‘Bharat Matri Muni’ as well as job search app ‘Nukri’ from its Play Store.
Google says that these applications did not follow the guidelines regarding service fee payments due to which they have been removed from the Play Store.
India’s Information Technology Minister Ashwani Vaishnu rejected Google’s move, saying that such removal of applications from the App Store would not be allowed.
He said that Google has already been talked to and I will also talk to startups that need to be protected in the country.
The removal of the application from the Play Store has been criticized by several startup companies that have long protested against Google’s modus operandi and even challenged it in the courts.
Google says this service fee is used to improve the Play Store and the Android ecosystem.
Some Indian startups had approached the court against the 11-26 percent service fee charged by Google, but in January and February this year, two Indian courts, including the Supreme Court, upheld Google’s charge of this fee. Permission was granted.
In this regard, Google said in a statement on Friday that some of the Indian companies that received huge amounts of money as payments had decided not to pay us fees from that amount.
The most affected in this regard is the wedding company ‘Matri Money.com’ whose more than 150 applications have been removed from the Play Store by Google.
“All our applications have been removed and are no longer available on the Play Store, which means we are out of business,” said Mauro Gavel Janaki Raman, founder of Matri Money.com, while talking to a news agency on Saturday. .
He said that if all this continues for a long time, our profits will decrease significantly.
Apart from this, the popular application ‘Job’ and a real estate application have also been removed by Google from the Play Store.
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**How might the Indian government’s response to Google’s app removals reshape the future of tech regulation in India?**
**Interview with Technology Expert Dr. Anisha Gupta on Google’s Removal of Indian Apps from Play Store**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Dr. Gupta. There’s been significant discussion regarding Google’s recent removal of the ‘Bharat Matri Muni’ and ‘Nukri’ apps from the Play Store. What are the implications of this action?
**Dr. Anisha Gupta:** Thank you for having me. Google’s decision to remove these widely used applications highlights a critical tension between tech giants and local regulations. By citing non-compliance with service fee guidelines as the reason for the removals, it raises questions about the enforcement of such policies, especially when they can impact millions of users and essential services like matrimonial support and job searching.
**Interviewer:** India’s IT Minister Ashwani Vaishnu has strongly opposed this move. What does his reaction signify about the relationship between Google and the Indian government?
**Dr. Gupta:** Minister Vaishnu’s rejection of Google’s actions indicates a growing frustration from the Indian government towards foreign tech companies exerting control over local markets. It’s a reflection of India’s desire to assert its digital sovereignty. The government’s stance is that such removals interfere with local businesses and services, which can have broader economic implications. Essentially, the government is signaling that it won’t stand idly by while essential apps are taken down.
**Interviewer:** Google claims the apps violated payment guidelines. What might be the broader implications for app developers in India?
**Dr. Gupta:** The broader implication is a potential chilling effect on app developers in India. If developers perceive that compliance with these guidelines could lead to such drastic action, they may either hesitate to innovate or fear significant financial repercussions. Striking a balance between compliance with Google’s policies and the operational realities in India will be crucial. Developers might feel pressured to either conform to international standards or advocate for changes in those guidelines to better fit local contexts.
**Interviewer:** In your opinion, how can both parties move towards a resolution?
**Dr. Gupta:** Open dialog is essential. Google could benefit from engaging directly with Indian policymakers to better understand the local context and concerns. Simultaneously, the Indian government could provide clearer guidelines that ensure both user protection and compliance requirements are met without stifling local innovation. A collaborative approach is necessary to ensure that apps can thrive while meeting regulatory expectations.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Gupta, for your insights on this complex issue.
**Dr. Gupta:** My pleasure! It’s an important conversation that will shape the future of technology and regulation in India.