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 payment of service fees 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 he has already talked to Google 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 out of 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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**Interview with Dr. Aditi Shah, Technology Policy Expert**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Shah. Recently, Google removed several important Indian applications, including the matrimonial app ‘Bharat Matri Muni’ and the job search app ‘Nukri’, from its Play Store due to payment compliance issues. What are your initial thoughts on this situation?
**Dr. Aditi Shah:** Thank you for having me. This is indeed a significant development. Google’s decision to remove these apps highlights ongoing challenges in the digital space, especially regarding compliance with payment guidelines. It raises questions about the balance of power between large tech companies and local developers in India.
**Editor:** Google claims that these apps violated guidelines related to service fees. How do you view the legitimacy of this reasoning?
**Dr. Aditi Shah:** On one hand, companies like Google have a responsibility to enforce their policies to maintain a level playing field. On the other hand, their actions can disproportionately affect smaller developers who may struggle to meet these requirements. It’s crucial that these policies are not just enforced uniformly but also consider the context and challenges faced by local enterprises.
**Editor:** India’s IT Minister, Ashwani Vaishnu, has criticized Google’s actions, stating that such removals will not be tolerated. How do you see the government’s role in this dispute?
**Dr. Aditi Shah:** The government’s intervention is vital here. The Minister’s firm stance indicates a prioritization of local businesses and the importance of ensuring that Indian developers can thrive without being sidelined by global corporations. It suggests a need for clearer communication and perhaps negotiations to establish a more amicable framework that respects both local developers and platform policies.
**Editor:** Do you think this incident could lead to broader regulatory changes in how tech companies operate within India?
**Dr. Aditi Shah:** Absolutely. This situation might catalyze the Indian government to push for more stringent guidelines that would require greater transparency and fair practices from foreign tech companies. We may see an evolution of digital policy that aims to protect local businesses while still allowing for innovation and competition.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Shah, for your insights. This issue is certainly one to watch as it unfolds between the Indian government and Google.
**Dr. Aditi Shah:** Thank you for having me. It’s an important topic, and I appreciate the opportunity to discuss it.
