Google Play Store removes Indian apps over non-compliance with its payment policy

Google removed a minimum of 23 apps developed by ten Indian developers from its Play Store on Friday due to non-compliance with its payment policy.

These encompass all thirteen applications developed by Matrimony.com, such as Bharat Matrimony, Kerala Matrimony, and Jodii. Additionally, three applications from InfoEdge, namely Naukri.com, Naukri Recruiter, and 99Acres, are included. Furthermore, the list comprises Shaadi.com, Balaji Telefilms' Altt (formerly ALTBalaji), and the streaming services aha and Stage. Audio platform Kuku FM, dating service Quack Quack, Truly Madly also disappeared from the Play Store.

The dispute is over Google imposing a fee of 11% to 26% on in-app payments after anti-competition body CCI ordered scrapping of an earlier system of charging 15% to 30%.

Google went ahead to remove the apps not paying the fee after the Supreme Court did not provide interim relief to companies behind these apps in their battle against the search giant's platform fee.

Google on Friday said a clutch of companies including well-established ones continue to flout its billing norms, choosing not to pay Play Store service fee applicable on the sale of in-app digital goods, and warned that it will not hesitate to take necessary action to enforce policies including removal of such non-compliant apps from Google Play.

Amid a warcry over Google Play billing policy by some prominent Indian startups and the recent launch of Indus Appstore, the Made-in-India app market challenger, Google in a blogpost asserted that allowing a small group of developers to get differential treatment from the vast majority of developers who are paying their fair share creates an uneven playing field putting all other apps and games at a competitive disadvantage.

"After giving these developers more than three years to prepare, including three weeks after the Supreme Court's order, we are taking necessary steps to ensure our policies are applied consistently across the ecosystem, as we do for any form of policy violation globally," Google said.

In a statement, InfoEdge wrote that Google’s action comes as a surprise to the company as it was taken without giving due and sufficient notice by Google.

Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani said it had cleared all pending Google invoices in a timely manner and was compliant with its policies.

"Indian companies will comply - for now. But what India needs is an App Store/ Play Store that is a part of Digital Public Infrastructure - like UPI and ONDC. The response needs to be strategic," he said in a post on X tagging Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and his office.

The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), a non-profit industry body, criticised the removal of the apps and called on Google to reinstate them. IAMAI's governing council further labelled the delisting of apps as unjust and disproportionate.

“IAMAI strongly condemns the removal of some of the most prominent consumer digital companies’ apps from the Play Store, including those of Bharatmatrimony, Info Edge, Shaadi.com, and TrulyMadly and IAMAI urges Google to reinstate the delisted apps,” the industry body said.

Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal, who is also a judge on Shark Tank, said yesterday was a “dark day” for the Indian internet. He said Google went forward with the delisting “even though legal hearings are underway” at the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the Supreme Court. 

He further wrote, “Their false narratives and audacity show they have little regard for India. Make no mistake - this is the new Digital East India Co and this #Lagaan must be stopped! Pls RT and #SaveOurStartups,” he said on social media platform X.”

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