Indian digital payment firm Paytm backed within hours of being removed from Play Store by Google, Paytm is back to where it belongs.
On Friday, Google removed the popular payments bank app from Play Store for violating policies on gambling, even though other apps like Paytm for Business, Paytm mall, Paytm Money were still available on the platform.
We continue to work with Google play store to restore the app and assure users with their balances and linked accounts are 100 per cent safe. Services are fully functional on all existing apps, and you people continue enjoying Paytm like before,” Paytm said in a statement.
Google restricts online casinos and other unregulated gambling apps on its play store, including the popular fantasy sports like Dream 11.
Google’s Suzanne Frey, Vice President, Product, Android Security and Privacy, wrote “We don’t allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps which facilitate sports gambling.
This comprehends if the app misleads consumers to an external website that allows them to participate in paid tournaments to win Money or cash prizes, its 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 displacement,” Frey explained.
Paytm, that also counts Alibaba and Berkshire Hathaway among its backers, confirmed that Google had removed its app.
Launched as a platform for mobile recharges, Paytm proliferated after ride-hailing firm Uber listed it as a quickest payment option.
Its uses swelled further in 2016 when India banned individual high-value currency notes, causing an immense shortage of currency in the country for months.
Currently, it is competing with global players such as Google Pay and Walmart’s PhonePe in India’s digital payments market, which is going to set more than double in value to $135 billion by 2023.
