Google’s Play Store Purge: Popular Indian Apps Removed Over Billing Dispute
Sanjeev Bikhchandani, representing InfoEdge which owns Naukri and 99Acres, clarified in a TV interview that they have been compliant since the Supreme Court's order on February 9. He emphasized that there are no pending invoices with Google and all payments have been made promptly.Founder of Bharat Matrimony, MurugavelJanakiraman, lamented the move as a "dark day" for the country's startup ecosystem, while the founder of Kuku FM went as far as labeling Google as the "most evil company in the world."
In a significant move, Google has delisted more than a dozen prominent Indian apps from its Play Store, citing non-compliance with its billing policies. Among the affected apps are well-known platforms such as the hiring platform Naukri, matrimonial services Shaadi and Bharat Matrimony, audio storytelling platforms Kuku FM, Alt Balaji’sAltt, dating platform TrulyMadly, and real-estate manager 99acres.
This action marks a notable escalation in the ongoing friction between the tech giant and certain Indian app developers who have opposed Google’s policy of imposing a commission ranging from 11 to 26 percent on in-app payments. Earlier this year, decisions by both the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court effectively granted Google the authority to enforce these fees or remove non-compliant apps.
For developers, this move poses a significant setback to their businesses during the period they remain offline. Google holds a dominant position in the Indian market, with over 90 percent of smartphones operating on its Android platform.
Founder of Bharat Matrimony, MurugavelJanakiraman, lamented the move as a “dark day” for the country’s startup ecosystem, while the founder of Kuku FM went as far as labeling Google as the “most evil company in the world.”
In response to the backlash, Google defended its actions in a blog post, stating that for an extended period, several companies, including established ones, have chosen not to pay for the value they receive on Google Play, instead seeking interim protections from the court. The company highlighted that these developers comply with payment policies of other app stores.
While Google has not officially disclosed the names of the delisted apps, many of them were conspicuously absent from the platform at the time of publication. The company cited non-compliance by these apps, specifically their failure to implement payment systems capable of segregating the commission charged by Google per in-app payment in real-time. Typically, Google and the developers follow a monthly cycle of payment reconciliation.
Sanjeev Bikhchandani, representing InfoEdge which owns Naukri and 99Acres, clarified in a TV interview that they have been compliant since the Supreme Court’s order on February 9. He emphasized that there are no pending invoices with Google and all payments have been made promptly.
The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), a lobby group, urged Google not to remove any apps from Google Play. While not naming specific apps, IAMAI confirmed that at least four of its members had received delisting notices from Google. The group emphasized that a substantive hearing of the case is pending before the Supreme Court and urged Google to refrain from taking coercive action during the case’s pendency.
