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 India’s popular matrimonial application ‘Bharat Matri Muni’ from its Play Store along with the job. The search-helper application ‘Jobs’ has also been removed.
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 actions shape future regulations for foreign tech companies operating in India?
**Interview with Tech Analyst Dr. Riya Sharma on Google’s Removal of Indian Apps from Play Store**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Sharma. We’re discussing a significant development regarding Google’s recent removal of some important applications from the Play Store in India, namely ‘Bharat Matri Muni’ and the job application ‘Jobs’. Can you give us a brief overview of what happened?
**Dr. Sharma:** Thank you for having me. Yes, this situation has escalated quickly. Google removed these applications citing that they failed to comply with guidelines regarding service fee payments. This action has sparked a strong reaction from India’s government, particularly from the Information Technology Minister, Ashwani Vaishnu, who has publicly criticized Google’s decision.
**Interviewer:** What implications do you think this has for Google and its relationship with the Indian government?
**Dr. Sharma:** This is a pivotal moment. India is one of Google’s largest markets, and such removals could strain relationships considerably. The Minister’s insistence that these actions won’t be tolerated highlights a growing resistance against foreign tech companies imposing their rules over local businesses. If this issue escalates, we might see discussions around regulatory frameworks and possibly even action against Google.
**Interviewer:** Google has mentioned that these removals are due to non-compliance with payment guidelines. What does this signify about the broader issues of app store regulations?
**Dr. Sharma:** It underlines a critical tension between app developers and platform operators. Google has specific requirements regarding payment processes, which they argue are necessary for security and fair revenue distribution. However, many local developers feel these guidelines are overreaching and can heavily disadvantage them. It raises questions about the balance of power in the app ecosystem, particularly in markets where local regulations may conflict with those of global giants.
**Interviewer:** With India’s growing tech scene, how might this incident affect the future of app development in the country?
**Dr. Sharma:** This could be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it puts a spotlight on the need for local app developers to sharpen their compliance and operational practices. On the other hand, it may encourage the Indian government to create supportive policies that shield local companies from foreign pressures. Strengthening local platforms could lead to a vibrant domestic app ecosystem, which is a positive take amidst the current tension.
**Interviewer:** what do you think the next steps might be for both the Indian government and Google?
**Dr. Sharma:** For the Indian government, it will likely entail more assertive regulatory discussions and possibly revising frameworks to ensure local applications can thrive. For Google, it might require a reconsideration of its compliance policies in light of local sensitivities. Both sides will need to engage in dialog to find a middle ground that protects users and developers without stifling innovation.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Sharma, for sharing your insights. This situation will be interesting to watch as it develops.
**Dr. Sharma:** My pleasure! I’ll be keeping an eye on this as well.
