The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) issued a statement on Saturday criticizing the removal of Indian companies' apps from Google's Play Store and urged for their reinstatement.
IAMAI strongly condemned the removal of popular consumer digital companies' apps, such as Bharatmatrimony, Info Edge, Shaadi.com, and TrulyMadly, considering it unfair and disproportionate.
Sanjeev Bikhchandani, the founder of Info Edge, acknowledged the need for compliance with Google's actions for now but emphasized the necessity for a strategic response from India. He proposed the establishment of an App Store/Play Store integrated into Digital Public Infrastructure, akin to UPI and ONDC.
IAMAI urged Google to promptly reinstate the delisted apps and engage in discussions with the industry body or member companies to find mutually acceptable solutions while the matter remains under legal consideration.
This response from IAMAI comes following Google's statement regarding the removal of several companies' apps from the Play Store due to their refusal to pay for the services provided by Google Play under interim protections from court orders, as Google enforced new policies.
IAMAI, a non-profit industry body representing 580 companies, including both Indian and multinational corporations, as well as startups, advocates for a fair resolution to the issue.
In a related development, the Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF), a policy think-tank representing homegrown startups, condemned Google's actions, accusing the tech giant of attempting to intimidate and coerce developers who challenge its allegedly exploitative policies through the delisting of apps.
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