120 startups to take on global tech giants

Amidst discontent among Indian startups against Google’s growing monopoly, the heads of more than 120 startups are planning to form a domestic app developers’ association to voice their concerns against global technology giants such as Google, Facebook, Twitter and Apple. Recently, Google had reiterated its Play Billing policy, under which it is compulsory for Indian developers using Play to pay 30% commission. The move was unwelcomed by the domestic players, forcing Google to soften its stance and provide an extension for the rule to come into effect to 31 March 2022.

However, Indian app developers are still not happy and have been coaxing the Centre to regulate Google and other big tech firms. “We as a group of Indian startup developers will come together to make an independent congregation. They (Google) cannot be a single gatekeeper to the whole Indian internet ecosystem, especially when they claim to be a non-Indian entity,” stated Paytm founder and chief executive officer Vijay Shekhar Sharma.