Why Google removed PayTM from Play Store?

Violation
of Google guidelines by PayTM app results in removal from play store.

Now a days people are commonly in use of Paytm App for individual and commercial quick access online financial transactions. Paytm is owned by an Indian Company but the company had received massive funds from an ally of China's Alibaba Group.

Google as a common platform website, implemented certain policy not to allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting on the sports players especially in India. This includes if an app leads consumers to an external website that allows them (customers) to participate in paid tournaments to win real money or cash prizes, it is violation of Google policies, actioned on Paytm app by Google's Vice President Suzanne Frey. After the compliance of the violation, the app seems to be back to the normal process.

The pandemic situation created due to Covid-19 spread kept people stuck at home. To play games from home a game ‘Play Live Casino from Home' introduced to digital world. This game is considered to be gamble online with Paytm. While registered to an account of ‘Betting & Online Casinos' the customer as the payment method to deposit and withdraw money chooses Paytm.

Under the new rules notified under the Information and Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act) In April 2011, new guidelines for intermediaries have been notified under the IT Act, which require the intermediaries like ISPs to inter alia observe necessary due diligence and publish rules and regulations and user agreement for access or usage of the bandwidth provided by the ISP. Such rules and regulations and user agreement need to include terms which inter alia inform the users of the bandwidth not to host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, update or share any information, that is relating or encouraging gambling, etc. or otherwise unlawful in any manner whatever. It appears that the rule has been included to discourage any activity of gaming / gambling that may be unlawful under the Gaming Legislations in the country.

- Adv. Neethu Narayanan