Union Minister Calls for App Stores to Reject Illegal and Unsafe Apps by Google and Apple

New Delhi: The Indian government has recently given a directive to technology giants Apple and Google, urging them to avoid including applications on their platforms. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, announced this in response to reports of lending apps engaging in practices towards their borrowers.

Chandrasekhar stated, “Both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store host a range of applications that are widely used by Indians. We are closely monitoring a category of apps, loan apps… We have advised both Google and Apple not to onboard any applications that are deemed unsafe or illegal.”

He emphasized the government’s dedication to ensuring a reliable internet environment for all citizens. He also highlighted their intention to promptly engage with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to establish a whitelisting mechanism. This mechanism would only feature authorised loan applications on these two app stores.

In July of this year, Cupertino-based company Apple removed lending apps from its Indian App Store following reports of these apps subjecting borrowers to harassment and threats. Numerous reviewers reported that these loan apps offered loans but imposed high fees. Additionally, lenders were accused of resorting to blackmail tactics to pressure borrowers into repaying their debts.

In 2022 Google took action against loan apps and removed over 3,500 of them for violating the policy requirements of Google Play. A spokesperson from Google mentioned this.