Paytm In Google Play Store
Google easing Play Store rules for gamified loyalty programmes; 426 'rogue' lending apps currently on Play Store: Citizens' collective; Paytm First Games relisted on Google Play Store after weeks; Google removes 30 loan apps from Play store after RBI red flag; Google notice to Swiggy, Zomato for ‘violation’ of Play Store rules. For the first time, Google has removed Paytm’s main application from the Google Play Store on September 18 while other applications such as its wealth and management app Paytm money, merchant app Paytm for Business and its movie ticketing application are still available on the play store for users to install.
© Deepti Ratnam StaffPaytm App Removed
- Google has pulled down Paytm from its Google PlayStore claiming that the company is violating privacy. Suzanne Frey, Vice President, Product, Android Security and Privacy said: 'We don't allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting. This includes if an app leads consumers to an external website that allows them to participate in paid tournaments to win real money or cash prizes, it is a violation of our policies.' Google further added, 'We have these policies to protect users from potential harm. When an app violates these policies, we notify the developer of the violation and remove the app from Google Play until the developer brings the app into compliance. And in the case where there are repeated policy violations, we may take more serious action which may include terminating Google Play Developer accounts. Our policies are applied and enforced on all developers consistently.' Breaking: Paytm, India's financial services app has been taken off from Google Play Store after repeated policy violations.
'Play Store prohibits online casinos and other unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting in India' according to TechCrunch. #Paytmpic.twitter.com/Wz5PnWbyt2
— Ishan Agarwal (@ishanagarwal24) September 18, 2020 The reason of pulling down Paytm from Google PlayStore is not yet known. But Google is claiming that the company can't entertain the gambling apps. Google had earlier notified Paytm developers regarding this issue and were in touch with the company regarding the digital wallet and e-commerce app.@Paytm & @PaytmFirstGames pulled down from Google Playstore@GoogleIndia cites Violation of Google Play gambling policies & says we don’t allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting@MugdhaCNBCTV18@ShereenBhan@vijayshekharpic.twitter.com/Zj4QivQ45A
— Megha Vishwanath (@MeghaVishwanath) September 18, 2020Paytm News
No further information is known regarding the removal of Paytm from the Google PlayStore. Twitter has flooded soon after the news came in light. Paytm app repeatedly violated company's policies including online casinos and other unregulated gambling apps. Paytm is still available on the Apple App Store.https://twitter.com/nehemiahchowdar/status/1306879126285025281
- Google removed the Paytm app from the Play Store earlier in the day.
- It’s one of the largest mobile payment platforms in India.
- Paytm claims Google’s flouted competition rules.
Update: September 18, 2020 (11:30 AM ET): The main Paytm payments app is now back on the Google Play Store. However, the Paytm First Games app is still down. One97 Communications — the company that owns Paytm — has now hit back at Google. It claims (via Bloomberg) that Google violated competition rules by removing Paytm from the Play Store.
“They have all the levers and can decide which app can be brought down and when. How is that not a problem?” Madhur Deora, President, One97 Communications told Bloomberg. “You’ve got a player which regulates India’s digital ecosystem while competing with many companies in the same ecosystem,” he added.
Original article: September 18, 2020 (5:58 AM ET): Google has pulled the Paytm app from the Play Store citing policy violations. The mobile payments app can no longer be downloaded from the Google Play Store, but if you already have it, it should work just fine.
Paytm is one of India’s most popular, if not the biggest, online payments and money transfer platforms. According to its data, the Paytm app has over 200 million active users, eclipsing the user base of competitors like Google Pay and PhonePe. It’s also the most valued Indian startup with names like Softbank, Berkshire Hathaway, SAIF Partners, and others backing it.
In a blog post released today, Google said that it doesn’t allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting. “This includes if an app leads consumers to an external website that allows them to participate in paid tournaments to win real money or cash prizes, it is a violation of our policies,” the company noted.
The reason for Paytm’s removal?
The Paytm app repeatedly violated these policies, sources familiar with the matter told TechCrunch. The trouble started after Paytm launched a Cricket League Contest on its app that allowed users to win stickers and then exchange them for cash. Even though Google’s own payments app runs similar scratch-and-win promotions, the Paytm app was found to be violating Play Store policies and was booted from it alongside the Paytm First Games app.
Google warned in its blog post that “in the case where there are repeated policy violations, we [Google] may take more serious action which may include terminating Google Play Developer accounts.”
Paytm, meanwhile, has promised that its app will be back very soon. In a tweet, the company assured that “all your money is completely safe and you can continue to enjoy your Paytm app as normal.”
Paytm Google Play Store Recharge
Google has also reportedly asked Disney Plus Hotstar to display a warning before running ads for fantasy sports apps.