Why Paytm App Is Removed From Play Store
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.
UPDATE: Paytm is back on Google Play Store hours after it was taken down.
- 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.
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- 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.
- Google has removed Paytm's mobile application from its mobile app store platform Play Store. The search engine giant has cited its policies on gaming and betting as the reason for the move.
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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.
How To Uninstall Paytm App
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,
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, 2020
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 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.
Paytm is back on the Play Store hours after the app was taken down for violating policies on gambling. Earlier today, Google removed the Paytm app from the Play Store while other apps like Paytm for Business, Paytm mall, Paytm Money, and a few more were still available on the platform.
Update: And we’re back! 🥳
— Paytm (@Paytm) September 18, 2020
What did Paytm comment?
Commenting on the matter Paytm issued an official statement and said Google suspended the app as it violated Play Store policies on gambling. “We continue to work with Google to restore the app. We assure all our users that their balances and linked accounts are 100 per cent safe. Our services are fully functional on all existing apps and you can continue enjoying Paytm like before,” the company said.
Explained: Paytm goes from Play Store, how are you affected?
What is Google’s Play Store policy on gambling?
Google prohibits online casinos and other unregulated gambling apps on its play store. Even fantasy sports platforms like Dream 11 are kept out. The tech giant also reveals that an app that leads consumers to an external site that allows them to participate in paid tournaments to real money clearly violates Play Store policies.
In a blog post posted earlier on Friday, Google’s Suzanne Frey, Vice President, Product, Android Security and Privacy explains, “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.”
Frey notes, “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.”
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“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,” Frey further states.
Why Paytm App Is Removed From Play Store Online
Commenting on the matter, Akash Karmakar of Panag and Babu Law Offices, who represents various tech and app companies said, “While PayTM did not directly engage in, or promote sports betting or gambling, it did have links to third-party sites which did. The ease of using PayTM on these third-party apps may have been viewed by Google as the element which makes PayTM as supporting these sites. Google appears to have taken an ethical stand against apps that promote or even advertise unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting. Since many other apps are also promoting betting and gambling websites through ads and pop-ups, if Google applies the same standard, I would expect more apps will get taken off the Play Store.”