Google to soon meet with IT Ministry over delisting of apps for non-compliance: Sources

In a crucial development, sources have informed CNBC-TV18 that Google is set to meet with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw imminently, regarding the delisting of certain apps from its app store in India for not adhering to its billing policies.

The meeting comes amidst escalating tensions between the tech giant and the Indian government over the removal of applications from its platform.

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, had extended an invitation to Google, seeking to address governmental apprehensions regarding the delisting of prominent applications.

Info Edge (India) Ltd on Saturday said its apps, including naukri.com, 99 acres.com and shiksha.com have been removed from Google Play Store but within hours it was clarified that some of them have been restored.

Other apps like Bharat Matrimony, Balaji Telefilms' Altt (formerly ALTBalaji), audio platform Kuku FM, dating service Quack Quack, Truly Madly, and Stage OTT, which had disappeared from the Play Store on Friday, are still not back.

Insiders suggest that Google is poised to assert that it has diligently adhered to due process in the delisting and subsequent restoration of applications. The tech giant is expected to emphasise that prior notices were provided to the concerned apps, affording them ample opportunities to rectify any compliance shortcomings before their removal.

Furthermore, Google is anticipated to underscore its commitment to enforcing the terms of its billing policy, which the delisted applications had ostensibly failed to adhere to. Notably, Google is likely to highlight that applications demonstrating compliance with the payment system have been promptly reinstated on the platform.

However, the tech conglomerate may also point out that the matter is currently sub judice, with the Supreme Court of India declining to grant interim protection against the delisting.

Google first announced on Friday, March 1, that it would start removing applications from its Play Store in India if developers do not adhere to the platform's billing policies.

The company said it currently has over 2,00,000 Indian app developers on Google Play who adhere to its policies, ensuring a safe platform.

However, without taking any names it said that 10 developers have failed to comply with its policies and are "creating an uneven playing field", putting other developers at a competitive disadvantage.

In the meantime, developers still have the option to operate their businesses on Android through alternative app stores or directly via their websites.

Google also added that the existing users would be able to access the apps without interruption, and that the platform continues to offer support to help developers achieve compliance.

Lal Chand Bisu, Co-Founder & CEO, Kuku FM in an interview to CNBC-TV18 said, “Google controls everything in the internet system. In India 97% people use android and Google has Play Store, so they are not allowing other company’s Play Store to distribute the apps. So everything is in their control, whether to allow an app to be there or not to be there, it is their decision. Google is saying since you are distributing the app through Play Store, you have to pay 15-30% of your revenue to Google and that is dangerous for Indian startup ecosystem as many companies will die. Till 2020 it was like a free market and we could use any payment gateway, and the charges were like 0.5-2%. However now Google is pushing us to use their payment gateway and pay them around 15-30% and that is unacceptable.”