Why is Google removing Indian matrimonial apps from Play Store? Google has stirred controversy by initiating the removal of apps from 10 prominent Indian companies, including leading matrimony platforms like Bharat Matrimony, amidst an ongoing dispute over service fee payments, as reported by Reuters.
Why is Google removing Indian matrimonial apps from Play Store?
The decision comes amid escalating tensions between Indian startups and Google, particularly concerning the tech giant’s in-app fee charges, which have long been a contentious issue.
Murugavel Janakiraman, the founder of Matrimony.com, expressed deep concern, labeling it a “dark day” for India’s internet.
He lamented the systematic removal of their apps, foreseeing a potential wipeout of major matrimony services.
These apps have garnered significant popularity in India, with Bharat Matrimony boasting over 50 million downloads.
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At the heart of the dispute lies the resistance from Indian startups against Google’s imposition of a fee ranging from 11% to 26% on in-app payments, following directives from antitrust authorities to dismantle an earlier system charging 15% to 30%.
Despite court rulings in January and February affirming Google’s right to enforce the fee or remove apps, discussions between the tech giant and affected companies persist.
In response, Google has issued notices of Play Store violations to Matrimony.com and Info Edge, which operates a similar app called Jeevansathi.
Although Matrimony.com shares initially saw a decline, they eventually closed up 2.2%. Similarly, Info Edge managed to recover from initial losses.
In a blog post, Google emphasized that these companies had opted not to pay for an extended period, underscoring the importance of fair contributions.
The tech giant argued that exempting certain developers from payment created an imbalanced playing field, highlighting the dominance of its Android platform in the Indian market, where 94% of phones run on Android.
This move by Google echoes its past actions, such as briefly removing the popular Indian payments app Paytm from the Play Store in 2020.
The ongoing dispute raises pertinent questions about the dynamics between tech giants and developers in one of Google’s fastest-growing markets.
