iamai task force big tech: IAMAI forms task force to tackle Big Tech dominance

“The task force will be looking at the Google Play Billing System (GPBS) and IP-related matters to begin with, and then will look at the broader concerns surrounding Big Tech and their abuse of dominance in India,” said Murugavel Janakiraman, the Bharat Matrimony founder who is also the chairperson of the task force.

This initiative is separate from a 40-member task force they had created in September last year that was also formed to look at some of Google’s policies, he said.

“We will also begin work on a white paper that will analyse the impact that Big Tech’s policies are having on the Indian startup ecosystem,” Janakiraman said. “The task force will be in touch with government officials and policymakers and work towards bettering policy that will benefit the startup ecosystem.”

Developers have been accusing Google of charging a commission that is too high, making operations unsustainable for many companies that are just starting out. Google has reduced its fee in several rounds from the earlier 30%, but maintains that it needs to charge some fees to the companies to sustain its operations.

Constitution of the latest task force is in line with the IAMAI’s change in stance, after Indian founders were elected to the governing council last year, replacing representatives from Big Tech firms.

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In early February, ET reported that a cluster of Indian startups had written to Google requesting the search giant not to delist them or take “any precipitative steps” against any app developers till March 19 when their special leave petition comes up for hearing in the Supreme Court.Sources said around 30 companies had written to Google requesting not to be delisted until the SLP is heard, after the Supreme Court on February 16 refused to restrain Google from “delisting” their apps from its Play Store. The order gives Google the liberty to remove the apps that don’t agree with the US tech major’s billing policy.

However, a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, while seeking a response from Google India, agreed to hear a batch of over 10 appeals challenging the tech giant’s alleged new “illegal” user choice billing policy.

“The task force will be looking at the Google Play Billing System (GPBS) and IP-related matters to begin with, and then will look at the broader concerns surrounding Big Tech and their abuse of dominance in India,” said Murugavel Janakiraman, the Bharat Matrimony founder who is also the chairperson of the task force.

This initiative is separate from a 40-member task force they had created in September last year that was also formed to look at some of Google’s policies, he said.

“We will also begin work on a white paper that will analyse the impact that Big Tech’s policies are having on the Indian startup ecosystem,” Janakiraman said. “The task force will be in touch with government officials and policymakers and work towards bettering policy that will benefit the startup ecosystem.”

Developers have been accusing Google of charging a commission that is too high, making operations unsustainable for many companies that are just starting out. Google has reduced its fee in several rounds from the earlier 30%, but maintains that it needs to charge some fees to the companies to sustain its operations.

Constitution of the latest task force is in line with the IAMAI’s change in stance, after Indian founders were elected to the governing council last year, replacing representatives from Big Tech firms.

Discover the stories of your interest

In early February, ET reported that a cluster of Indian startups had written to Google requesting the search giant not to delist them or take “any precipitative steps” against any app developers till March 19 when their special leave petition comes up for hearing in the Supreme Court.Sources said around 30 companies had written to Google requesting not to be delisted until the SLP is heard, after the Supreme Court on February 16 refused to restrain Google from “delisting” their apps from its Play Store. The order gives Google the liberty to remove the apps that don’t agree with the US tech major’s billing policy.

However, a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, while seeking a response from Google India, agreed to hear a batch of over 10 appeals challenging the tech giant’s alleged new “illegal” user choice billing policy.