Paytm has said that it is unavailable on Google Play Store due to some new updates and downloads. In a shocking turn of events, Paytm was removed from the Google Play Store on Friday. While Indian users are quite accustomed to apps being removed all of sudden owing to the recent app bans, Paytm’s ban has no China connection. Launching Paytm Mini App Store. Integrate using open source technologies like HTML and Java script and reach out to 150 Million monthly active users on Paytm App. Get Early Access Now. API Documentation. Showcase your Products and Services to India’s Largest online Audience. Paytm is still available on the Apple App Store, and those who have the app downloaded on their phones can still use it. There are no issues in the app’s services reported so far. Also, Paytm for Business app is still available on the Play Store. Paytm is one of the biggest fintech apps not only in India, but globally as well.
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.
Paytm Is Not In Play Store
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.
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.”
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Hours after being taken down by Google from Play Store, the search engine giant has restored Paytm on Play Store. Paytm's founder - Vijay Shekhar Sharma through a tweet announced that the app is live on Google Play Store and was taken down because they launched a UPI cashback campaign.
Google on Friday took down one of the most used online payment apps Paytm from the Google Play Store. This meant, android smartphone users were not able to download or install the app for the time being. Google has also taken down PaytmFirstGames from the app store. The company has recently roped in Sachin Tendulkar as its ambassador.
Other Paytm apps such as Paytm For Business, Paytm Money and Paytm Mall are still available on the Play Store.
Paytm Sign Up
Paytm through its official Twitter handle had earlier said that the app will be back very soon.
“All your money is completely safe, and you can continue to enjoy your Paytm app as normal,” the company tweeted.
In a blog the company wrote: 'We recently launched the ‘Paytm Cricket League’ on our consumer app for users to engage in their passion of cricket and get cashback. The game allows users to get player stickers after each transaction, collect them and receive Paytm Cashback.
Today afternoon, we received communication from Google that they are suspending our app because they believe 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.'
The company had said that it has temporarily removed the cashback component in an effort to meet the Play Store policy requirements.
Meanwhile, Google’s vice-president of product, Android security and privacy, Suzanne Frey in a blog dated September 18 wrote: “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.”
She further wrote that if an app violates their security policies then Google notifies the developer team and then removes the app from Google Play Store until the developer brings the app into compliances.
Paytm Is Not In Play Store Free
She said that if an app repeatedly violates Google’s policy, then Google can take serious action which may include terminating Google Play Developer accounts.
The blog did not, however, named Paytm.Paytm Is Not In Play Store Online
According to reports, Google has dropped more apps from the Play Store.
Akash Karmakar, partner, Law Offices of Panag & Babu 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 which 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.'