IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw: Google’s Removal of Apps from Play Store in India ‘Cannot Be Permitted

Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw strongly rebuked Google’s recent action of removing several Indian apps from its app store, declaring that such a move “cannot be permitted.” The decision comes amidst an escalating dispute over service fee payments to the US tech giant, highlighting the growing tensions between multinational corporations and Indian startups. Google’s crackdown on Friday targeted a range of popular Indian apps, including Matrimony.com’s Bharat Matrimony and the widely used job search platform Naukri, citing violations of its in-app payment guidelines as the rationale behind the removals.

Vaishnaw wasted no time in addressing the issue head-on, asserting his stance against Google’s actions and affirming his commitment to safeguarding the interests of Indian startups. In response to Google’s maneuver, the Information Technology Minister revealed that he has already engaged in discussions with Google regarding the matter and intends to convene meetings with the affected startups to explore avenues for recourse and protection within India’s regulatory framework. This proactive approach underscores the government’s resolve to ensure a level playing field for Indian startups and to assert regulatory oversight over the operations of multinational tech giants within the country.

The standoff between Google and Indian app developers underscores the broader challenges and complexities inherent in the digital ecosystem, where global tech giants wield significant influence and exert control over app distribution and monetization. As India’s burgeoning startup ecosystem continues to thrive and innovate, tensions over issues such as payment guidelines and regulatory compliance are likely to persist, necessitating constructive dialogue and proactive measures to address the concerns of all stakeholders involved. In this evolving landscape, the role of government oversight and regulatory intervention becomes paramount in fostering a conducive environment for innovation and equitable competition within the digital economy.

“This cannot be permitted. This kind of de-listing cannot be permitted,” he said in a statement.Google declined to comment. The removal has sparked criticism from many startups who have for years protested and legally challenged many of the US giant’s practices, including its in-app fee. Google says the fees help develop and promote the Android and Play Store ecosystem.

The dispute centers on efforts by some Indian startups to stop Google from imposing a fee of 11 percent-26 percent on in-app payments, after the country’s antitrust authorities ordered it to not mandatorily enforce an earlier system of charging 15 percent-30 percent.

But Google effectively received the go-ahead to charge the fee or remove apps after two court decisions in January and February, one by the Supreme Court.All our apps have been removed and we are out of Play Store and (that) means out of business,” founder Murugavel Janakiraman told Reuters on Saturday. “If this continuous for a long term then we will have significant drop in revenue.

Info Edge, another affected company, had seen its job search app Naukri and another real estate search app, removed. Many of the company’s apps had been restored, its founder said on Saturday on X, without elaborating.