Google has begun the process of restoring Indian mobile apps that were removed from the Play Store due to a dispute over service fees. The decision was taken after company executives met IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnau, the people said.
Google on Friday removed apps from 10 Indian companies, sparking controversy in one of its fastest-growing markets. Google dominates the Indian market and 94% of its mobile phones are based on the company’s Android platform. The list included famous names like Bharat Matrimony and Naukri.
The controversy primarily revolves around Google charging fees ranging from 11% to 26% for in-app payments. Indian startups have long protested what they see as unfair practices by the US tech giant.
Matrimony.com, the founders of Bharat Matrimony, Christian Matrimony, Muslim Matrimony and Jodii, expressed regret that their dating app was removed from Google’s Play Store. Founder Murugavel Janakiraman called it a dark day for the internet in India and highlighted the potential for far-reaching implications for matrimonial services.
“Our apps are being removed one by one. This literally means all the top matrimonial services are being removed,” Janakiraman was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Earlier today, Vaishnaud said India’s startup ecosystem needs to be protected and the government is also trying to convey the same to Google.
“We have a very large and vibrant startup ecosystem. We should take every step to ensure that this ecosystem is protected. Google has successfully adopted Indian technology. “I very much hope that Google will be reasonable in its approach,” the Minister said. he told NDTV before meeting with Google representatives.
In 2020, Google temporarily removed the popular Indian payment app Paytm from the Play Store due to several policy violations. The move has united the company’s founders and the broader startup community to take on Google by launching their own app stores and filing lawsuits.
