Why Paytm App Is Removed From Play Store
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The Paytm app has been removed from the Google Play Store for violating policies related to unregulated gambling apps. According to CNBC - TV18, Google had notified the developers by releasing a statement on September 18th regarding this issue. Google said that, “we don’t allow online unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting.” Google also mentioned that the app leads to consumers to an external website that’s allows them to participate in the paid tournaments to win real money/cash prizes.
That being said this might not affect people that have already installed the app on the phones, but will affect the company as google will not be allowing any more new downloads. The app is to stay out of the platform until the developers bring the app into compliance. However if they are any more repeated policy violations, google has decide to take even more serious action which may include terminating google play developer accounts.
The online betting scam
- This is something that even Paytm has tried to explain via a tweet shared through its official handle. In a tweet, it has explained that the app has been removed from the Play Store temporarily.
- Paytm is after all a digital banking service provider. If Google removed the app outright from the Play Store, it goes on to show the kind of power an American company has over Indian digital.
The Enforcement Directorate has discovered an online betting scam that involved Chinese nationals that have used online wallets such as Paytm, Cashfree and Razorpay. It has also frozen Rs 46.96 crore in four bank accounts after raiding 15 locations across Delhi, Gurgoan, Mumbai and Pune after companies were found to be running some illegal online betting apps linked to China. During the course of the search ED in 2019, the accounts of Dokypay Technology Pvt Ltd were mostly found in the HSBC bank.
These accounts have seen a collection of Rs 1,268 crore out of which Rs 300 crore came via Paytm payment gateway and around Rs 600 crore was transferred out via Paytm payment gateway. It has also been found that the locals were hired in order to open these bank accounts with the HSBC bank and then open trade these accounts with online wallets namely Paytm, Cashfree, Razorpay, etc.
Further a network of agents were hired to attract new customers /members, referral codes were then sent privately to invite the new members. These online wallets had lax due to diligent mechanisms and their non-reporting of suspicious transaction to the regulatory authorities helped the accused companies to launch pan India activities. And Paytm app being taken out of the google play store was the result of this situation.
The affect on Paytm First Games
This also comes as a huge blow for Paytm as it was also planning to launch Paytm First Games on the 19th September. Paytm First Games is an Indian Digital payments leader’s platform into the fantasy game segment and had also made Sachin Tendulkar as its brand ambassador. The app had aimed to get over 100 million users during the upcoming Indian Premier League and had planned over 200 live events on the platform over the time range of six months.
Paytm Response To This
When asked about this decision, the CEO of Paytm Vijay Shekhar said that companies like Facebook and Google have the responsibility to hep the growth of Indian Startups and the ecosystem. He also added that he thought Google was acting like the judge, jury and executioner because it has the power to remove apps from the App store.
Why App Removed From Play Store
Paytm had earlier put out their official statement, in which they stated that they observed google has been using its policies, rules and regulations selectively allowing a few large companies like Paytm First Games to distribute and list their respective Real money gaming apps on play store, without any action, hindrance by google play store and supporting this unfair trade and practices.
The statement also included that FIFS took this matter up and reached out to google to protest against this unfair trade practice. Paytm also has insisted that is a level playing field is not re-establishes , we may be forced to seek any other advice including legal action. Promotion of MPL in times portfolio companies including Cricket Buzz, Gana, MX player has also been stopped. And ended it by saying that they were confident and will be able to convince them to allow all our member apps on the Play Store.
The Current Situation
Later on in the day, Paytm has successfully managed come back on Google play store as CEO of Paytm Vijay Shekhar, Tweeted saying that 'Thanks everyone for your support! Paytm App is back, live in Play Store. We launched a UPI CashBack campaign this morning. Our app got suspended by Google for this. India, you decide if giving cash back is gambling.
In a rather surprising move, Google has taken down the app for the popular financial services platform, Paytm from its Play Store. The decision to remove the One97 Communications owned and operated app from the biggest repository of applications for smartphones comes after Google found the Paytm app to be violating its stringent anti-gambling policies.
Why Paytm App Is Removed From Play Store To My
UPDATE: Paytm is back on Google Play Store hours after it was taken down.
Taking into consideration the popularity of this made in India financial services platform, that currently enjoys the support of over 50 million active users, Suzanne Frey, Vice President, Product, Android Security, and Privacy at Google explained in a blogpost the reasons behind the app's removal from Google Play.
Without naming the Paytm, she 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... 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.'
Why it's still safe to use Paytm
But even with Paytm removed from Google Play, the platform still remains functional for active users who have the Paytm app already installed on their phones. Which begs the question: With the Paytm app banned, is it still safe to use it on our phones?
The answer to that question is yes!
As one of India's most popular financial services app, Paytm is central to the daily way of life for millions of Indians in urban and semi-urban centers across the country. Its deep reach that permeates even many villages and other rural areas makes it almost impossible to discard at the drop of the hat.
But as we mentioned above, luckily we don't need to remove the Paytm app from our phones or stop using the platform altogether from this moment on. The reason for this is that as a platform, Paytm still remains the same sort of secure financial services platform that it was yesterday.
The only thing that has changed is that the Android app for the platform has been found in violation of Google's complex rules around online gambling, contests, and cash prizes. But that in effect has no bearing on the security of transactions made through the platforms. So in effect, as a user, if you were comfortable using Paytm for making online transactions yesterday, Google's latest move shouldn't make any difference to you today.
Dear Paytm'ers,
Why Paytm App Is Removed From Play Store Online
Paytm Android app is temporarily unavailable on Google's Play Store for new downloads or updates. It will be back very soon.
All your money is completely safe, and you can continue to enjoy your Paytm app as normal.
— Paytm (@Paytm) September 18, 2020This is something that even Paytm has tried to explain via a tweet shared through its official handle. In a tweet, it has explained that the app has been removed from the Play Store temporarily and that the company is working towards bringing it back to users soon enough. The tweet also clarified that till then, the platform will remain functional for existing users and that they can continue making secure transactions until the time the app comes back online on the Google Play platform.