Google removes Paytm app from Play Store as it flouts company’s new rules

Paytm, a payment app has been pulled out from Google Play Store. The app, owned by One97 Communication Limited, is undetectable on being searched on Google Play Store and in contrast all the other apps including Paytm For Business, Paytm Money, Paytm Mall, and others owned by the company are still available on Play Store.

Reponding to questions on removal of the app from App Store, Paytm on Twitter wrote, "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."

It appears that Google has pulled out the Paytm app because it allegedly flouted the company’s new rules around online gambling. According to a source within Google stated that the Google team that worked with developers reached out to Paytm repeatedly to sort out the issues with the app. However, Paytm made repeated violations of the Google policy, said the source.

The money payment app disappeared from Google Play Store a few hours after Google’s Suzanne Frey, who is Vice President, Product, Android Security and Privacy, detailed the guidelines. “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,” she wrote.

"We have the same goals for our gambling policy. 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," wrote Suzanne.

With that being said, the Google has pulled down Paytm from the Play store because it believed the app was violating its new guidelines on online gambling or contests. According to reports, the Google had told the developers of Paytm about the removal and it continues to be in touch with Paytm to get the app back on Play Store.

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