Govt calls Google, delisted apps for a meeting next week to resolve dispute

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

government has taken action in response to Google's delisting of certain applications from the Play Store by calling a meeting with the tech giant.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the government strongly opposes the delisting of apps and will not allow it to happen.

«Government takes strong view of Google delisting some apps from Play Store. We will not allow delisting of apps,» PTI quoted Vaishnaw as saying.

Google on March 1, 2024, began removing the apps of 10 companies in India, including some popular matrimony apps such as Bharat Matrimony and job search app Naukri, in a dispute over service fee payments in one of the company's fastest-growing markets.

Indian startups have for years been protesting against many of the U.S. giant's practices, including its in-app fee charges. Google says its fees help develop and promote the Android and Play Store app ecosystem.

On Friday, India's Matrimony.com matchmaking apps Bharat Matrimony, Christian Matrimony, Muslim Matrimony and Jodii were removed from Google's Play Store, its founder Murugavel Janakiraman told Reuters.

He said it was a dark day for India's internet.

«Our apps are getting deleted one by one. It literally means all the top matrimony services will be deleted,» he said.

Matrimonial apps and websites have been growing in popularity in India as younger people shun traditional matchmaking by parents.

Matrimony.com's Bharat Matrimony app had been downloaded more than 50 million times, Janakiraman said. The company said it has more than 40