*Technology startups complain that in a blatant violation of the CCI order, Google has delisted some of the most well-known apps in the country without any forewarning

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

The disagreement between Google, a global tech giant, and Indian Internet companies over Play Store policies intensified Friday, March 1, 2024, with the US technology major delisted about local apps.

绿帽献妻 learnt the Big Tech effected removal of the affected apps over non-payment of service fees, described as the latest move in the tussle over its Play Store billing policies, which developers have opposed.

Among other apps de-platformed are Info Edge’s flagship apps Naukri.com and 99acres, in addition to BharatMatrimony, and Shaadi.com.

Other apps that have been taken down include online dating apps Truly Madly and QuackQuack, vernacular video-streaming platform Stage, Balaji Telefilms鈥� Altt, and audio streaming and podcast app Kuku FM.

Startup react to Google’s action

In reaction to removal of the apps from Play Store, Murugavel Janakiraman, Founder and Managing Director of Matrimony.com, said the delisting of the apps on a Friday 鈥渄oes not give us the opportunity to seek legal remedies.鈥�

Janakiraman stated: “In a blatant violation of the CCI order, Google has delisted some of the most well-known apps in India without any forewarning. “While there was a Supreme Court (SC) judgement on February 9 denying interim relief, the least that was expected from Google was to send a notice to developers,” reports ET.

Contending that the affected tech startups had committed no wrong, Info Edge India Founder and Vice-Chairman Sanjeev Bikhchandani reportedly said the company, which operates job-listing portal Naukri.com and matrimony site Jeevansathi, had been compliant with Google’s Play Store policies.

Bikhchandani noted: “There are no pending invoices of Google with us. All have been paid in a timely manner.”

Developers notified, says Google

Earlier in defence of its action in removing the apps, Google had claimed it said in a blog post that the technology company would begin enforcement聽 of its App Store billing policies, warning that non-compliant apps could go off its store.

According to the Big Tech, 10 Indian companies did not pay for 鈥渢he immense value they receive on Google Play鈥� for an extended period of time.

However, the tech giant did not identify the firms Friday, report said.

It stated: “For years, no court or regulator has denied Google Play’s right to charge,鈥� noting that the SC also 鈥渞efused to interfere鈥� with its right to do so.

Meanwhile, the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) Friday rather advised Google not to delist any apps from Google Play.

The IAMAI stated: 鈥淭he affected members of IAMAI are of the view that a substantive hearing of the case is pending before the Supreme Court of India, and Google should not take any coercive action during the pendency of the case.”

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