© Deepti Ratnam | Staff
Digital payments major Paytm’s mobile application has been removed from the Google Play Store. The search engine giant has cited its policies on gaming and betting as the reason for the move. The Google Play store also has seen a rapid increase in download numbers. From 2010 to 2016 the numbers have gone up from 1 billion downloads a month to 65 billion downloads a month. The app downloads are also affected greatly by the low prices Avg: 0.06$/app of the android apps when compared to the iOS apps. The University of Utah on Instagram: “Since Arts Bash can't.
Paytm 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, 2020 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.Paytm App Removed From Google Play Store
https://twitter.com/nehemiahchowdar/status/1306879126285025281
Paytm and Paytm First Games apps have been pulled for violating Google’s gambling policies.
Paytm App Removed From Play Store Free
Digital payments and mobile wallet platform Paytm has been pulled from the Google Play Store for violating Google’s gambling policies. In an update on Friday, Google said that it doesn’t allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting. This comes after Paytm's gaming arm Paytm First Games (PFG) was gearing up for fantasy cricket ahead of the Indian Premier League.
Paytm recently launched the ‘Paytm Cricket League’ on the main app where users could get player stickers after each transaction, collect them and receive Paytm Cashback.
According to Google, even 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 its policies.
Soon after the app was taken down, Paytm tweeted saying the 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,' it said.
Paytm said in a statement that it received communication from Google on Friday afternoon that it is suspending Paytm app because it believes this to be a violation of their Play Store policies on gambling. The Paytm Android app has thus been unlisted from Google’s Play Store and is temporarily unavailable to users for new downloads or updates.
“While it is clear that all activities on Paytm are completely lawful, we have temporarily removed the cashback component in an effort to meet the Play Store policy requirements,” Paytm said in a statement.
“We continue to work with Google to restore the app. We assure all our users that their balances and linked accounts are 100% safe. Our services are fully functional on all existing apps and you can continue enjoying Paytm like before,” it added.
This comes a day ahead of the Indian Premier League, a period which is set to see the fantasy gaming market surge with cricket fans betting on their favourite players, creating fantasy teams as offered by several gaming apps in the country.
Ahead of the IPL, Paytm’s gaming arm Paytm First Games has announced Sachin Tendulkar as the brand ambassador of the platform and also said that it set aside Rs 300 crore to spend on marketing and promotions. In April, Paytm First Games had announced that it had had 5 million downloads during the lockdown. At the time, it said it had half a million daily active users.
In the fintech space, Paytm was reportedly the sixth-most downloaded app in August, with 6.7 million people downloading the app. It reportedly has over 450 million users overall.
Paytm First Games reportedly has over 50 games, with fantasy sports being most popular. As per reports, it has over 80 million users with the majority of them from smaller cities and towns.
Google said that its policy is in place 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,” the Google statement further added.
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