Google has removed some lending apps that are aimed at Indian
consumers from its Play Store after reviewing them based on flags it received from
users and government agencies. According to the company, it took this action for
the protection of users.
Reportedly, around 10 of the apps were removed from the Play
Store as they violated Google’s policies regarding loan repayment lengths aimed
at protecting vulnerable borrowers. Google, however, has not confirmed the
exact number of apps that it took down.
In this process, Google contacted companies and inquired them about their compliance with Google’s rules and regulations.
The email sent by Google read “We ask you to confirm within
five days of this mail whether you hold valid existing approvals or licences
from the Reserve Bank of India to act as a NBFC (Non-Banking Financial Company)
or are registered under any applicable state legislation to offer such services
or are offering services on your app as a designated agent of a registered
NBFC/Bank.”
Google further warned the companies that if they failed to
provide confirmation within 5 days, their apps may be removed from the Play
Store without further notice.
In a blogpost, Google stated that developers must only
access permissions that are necessary to implement current features and
services and must not use permissions that give access to user or device data
for undisclosed, unimplemented, or disallowed features.
