Legislation To Shield Startups From Bigtech’s Unfair Practices Important: TrulyMadly CEO

Google's removal of Indian apps from the Play Store due to non-compliance with payment policies has caused quite a stir nationwide. Despite the decision to reinstate all apps, there is still a lingering sense of uncertainty and ongoing discussions on this topic. To delve deeper into this issue, BW Businessworld spoke with Snehil Khanor, Founder & CEO of TrulyMadly (one of the apps affected by the sudden removal).

Google seems to have agreed to reinstate all removed apps. What is your opinion on this?

As a temporary solution, all apps will be restored to their status as of 1 March, before being removed, using direct payment integrations similar to what other apps like Amazon and Uber use. However, Google will charge up to 26 per cent of the app’s revenue, which could be a major financial challenge for app developers.

Has TrulyMadly been reinstated by Google? Did it happen following government intervention?

Google had reinstated our platform. However, this action was solely a result of our adherence to Google’s policy to maintain our presence. It is important to note that the tech major’s decision remained unchanged, we merely followed the rules, which is why our platform was back earlier than some others. Many developers possess various applications, but solely those that adhered to the regulations had been reinstated earlier, while the others remain removed.

Do you believe India must develop its own application ecosystem/app store to provide support for emerging companies and startups?

Yes, but the process of developing an application ecosystem/app store requires a considerable amount of time before yielding results. We cannot expect it at speed, but it is important to have a long-term plan in place. Additionally, I believe implementing legislation or a framework that safeguards startups and their innovators from unfair practices by big tech companies would be beneficial. It is crucial to prevent a situation where these tech giants have complete control over the fate of startups, acting as both the judge and executioner.

What is your opinion on Google's initial decision to remove apps?

I strongly opposed Google’s decision, as I believe it marked a black day for India’s digital aspirations. This move highlighted the growing influence of big tech companies, who are gradually assuming the role of digital landlords in the technological landscape and exerting their dominance over smaller enterprises by imposing substantial payment obligations. Even though only a handful of Indian businesses attain a profit after tax (PAT) of 30 per cent, Google anticipates a portion of their hard-earned revenue, thereby impeding its growth and prosperity.

What is your opinion on Google’s involvement in compliance issue with the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) order?

Google is currently not following the CCI order, which clearly states that app developers should not be restricted from using third-party payment services. Despite this directive, Google is pressuring companies to eliminate other payment gateways and exclusively use its billing systems, which come with a 15-30 per cent commission fee. This decision by Google is negatively affecting both Indian businesses and user experience, as they are delisting several applications while the CCI is still reviewing the case.

What message do you want to send to Google regarding its actions?

Google should understand that if Microsoft had similarly treated them, we would all be forced to use Windows and Internet Explorer just to reach its search engine. If Microsoft had taken a 30 per cent cut from its earnings, Google would not have become the big player we are familiar with today. Therefore, the tech giant needs to grant others the same freedom it had to achieve great success.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the esteemed ministers for their participation and to the media for their support. I am also looking forward to hold conversations with Google to ensure that all app developers can freely select the payment gateways that align with their preferences, without facing any pressure.