Jobaaj Stories
Google has reinstated a few Indian apps that were previously removed. The swift action follows direct intervention by the government, prompting Union Minister of Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, to schedule a meeting with the search engine giant on Monday.
Government Stands Firm Against App Delisting
Vaishnaw, adopting a robust stance, declared that the delisting of apps from the Google Play Store is not permissible. Emphasizing India's clear policy, he stated, "Our startups will get the protection they need." The minister conveyed his dissatisfaction with the removal, stating, "This kind of delisting cannot be permitted."
Google's Crackdown on Non-Compliant Apps
On Saturday, Google informed the stock exchanges about the removal of five apps from Info Edge, including Naukri.com, Naukri Recruiter, Naukrigulf, 99acres, and Shiksha, citing non-compliance with the payments policy. Notably, searches on the Google Play Store unveiled the removal of apps like Shaadi, Matrimony.com, Bharat Matrimony, Alt Balaji, and Kuku FM, raising concerns within the Indian internet community.
Concerns Over Google's Dominance and Allegations of Monopoly
Founder of Bharat Matrimony, Murugavel Janakiraman, termed the move as a "dark day" for the Internet in India, while Kuku FM Co-founder Vinod Kumar Meena accused Google of behaving like a 'monopoly.' Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar expressed concerns over Google's over 90% control of the app ecosystem in India, highlighting potential competition stifling and misuse against startups. He called for a government and court investigation into whether this incident represents an abuse of power and misuse of dominance.
