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<ul><li>On Friday, <keyword id="6357120" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="paytm">Paytm</keyword> was banned from the Google Play Store for over seven hours. </li><li>While Google released a statement it doesn’t allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting, Paytm had another story to tell.</li><li>By the end of the day, Paytm was back on the app store, however questions regarding the short ban on Paytm continued. </li></ul>On Friday afternoon, Paytm’s <keyword id="198636" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vijay-Shekhar-Sharma">Vijay Shekhar Sharma</keyword> and his thousands of employees were in for a rude shock – Paytm was banned from the Google Play Store, a day before the Indian Premier League is scheduled to start. By the end of the day, Paytm was back on the app store, however questions regarding the short ban on Paytm continued. Google released a statement it doesn’t allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting. “This includes if an app leads consumers to an external website that allows them to participate in paid tournaments to win real money or cash prizes, it is a violation of our policies,” said the company’s statement. However, Paytm had a different story to tell. Paytm said that its recently launched mode of gamification where after every transaction you get a scratch card with a cricket sticker (a player's image and name), was the reason for the ban. “If a user collects five stickers then you would get a cashback, it’s as simple as that. Out of the blue and for reasons best known to Google, they considered it gambling. Whereas, their own payment app runs a similar promotion where you get scratch cards and then get money from that. We are a bit surprised because of that,” a Paytm spokesperson told Business Insider. While Google in its statement said that when an app violates the policies, they notify the developer of the violation and remove the app from Google Play until the developer brings the app into compliance. “And in the case where there are repeated policy violations, we may take more serious action which may include terminating Google Play Developer accounts,” it said. However, Paytm said that it was only today that it was notified regarding the scratch card ‘violation’. Earlier in the beginning of September, there was a different violation regarding Paytm First Games. “Today you can go and advertise about a fantasy gaming app on any other app but Google says that you can’t promote your own sister app. This meant that Paytm can promote any other app but not our own fantasy gaming app. This is drawing on the lines of anti-competitiveness. Today’s violation was absolutely Google’s single-minded understanding of what the game is. They clubbed it both under the same ‘policies’ violation whereas they are two different things,” said the spokesperson. ‘Google’s policies have to adhere to the law of the land’ Interestingly, Paytm First Games continues to exist in the Apple App Store, where it was launched a month ago. Google and Apple have different approaches towards fantasy gaming. While Google takes strict action against any game that is related to betting online, Apple doesn’t seem to have any qualms about that. In fact, Google allows fantasy gaming apps on the Play Store in the US. “Apple is a bit more liberal in their policies and hence more supportive of app ecosystems specifically when it comes to real money gaming. While Google allows fantasy gaming apps to be listed on the playstore in the US, what we are trying to ask is why an inferior treatment for apps in India,” said the Paytm spokesperson. Google’s removal of apps has often been questioned, even though the tech giant has always been clear about its processes to be followed by an app to be on the Play Store. <a href="https://www.indiatvnews.com/technology/news-mobikwik-digital-wallet-removed-from-google-play-store-here-is-why-621643#:~:text=Popular%20digital%20wallet%20MobiKwik%20was,exactly%20the%20payments%20platform%20do.">Earlier, </a>another payments app, Mobikwik, had been removed from the Play Store for not conforming to its ‘advertising rules’. “The more important thing that needs to be considered is that when our country is on the cusp of becoming a huge digital app ecosystem, how much is it possible to do when we have an entire ecosystem being ruled by policies which aren’t in coherence with the law of the land. If a simple scratch card can be read as gambling and of the larger apps out there Paytm can be banned, I’m actually worried about what happens to the smaller apps,” said the spokesperson. Business Insider reached out to Google for its response on specific charges made by Paytm but the spokesperson said that the tech giant has nothing more to add to its earlier statement. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/paytm-says-your-money-is-safe-and-the-app-will-be-back-soon-on-play-store/articleshow/78185321.cms">Paytm says your money is safe and the app will be back soon on Play Store</a>

INTERVIEW: Paytm trains its guns on Google while the payments app is back in Play Store

<ul><li>The <keyword id="1736801" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paytm-app">Paytm app</keyword> has been removed from the Google Play Store for violating policies related to unregulated gambling apps.</li><li>This does not affect those who already have the app installed on their phones, but new downloads are not possible at this moment.</li><li>Other apps from the company, like Paytm Money, Paytm Mall and Paytm for Business are still available for download.</li><li>Google said it is in touch with the app’s developers to bring it back on the Play Store.</li></ul>The Paytm app has been removed from the Google Play Store. The reason reported for the removal of the app is that Google doesn’t allow ‘unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting’. According to <a href="https://twitter.com/CNBCTV18Live/status/1306872648429785088">CNBC-TV18</a>, Google had notified developers about this a few days ago. It also said that it is working with Paytm to bring the app back on the Play Store. A search for the Paytm app on the Play Store confirmed the app’s removal. Other apps from the company like Paytm Money, Paytm Mall and Paytm for Business are still available for download. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="78187022" title="How to install the Paytm app on Xiaomi, Samsung and other phones" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> On September 18, Google released a <a href="https://india.googleblog.com/">statement</a> saying that it doesn’t allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting. “This includes if an app leads consumers to an external website that allows them to participate in paid tournaments to win real money or cash prizes, it is a violation of our policies.” "When an app violates these policies, we notify the developer of the violation and remove the app from Google Play until the developer brings the app into compliance. And in the case where there are repeated policy violations, we may take more serious action which may include terminating Google Play Developer accounts. Our policies are applied and enforced on all developers consistently," the blog post added. We have reached out to Google for a statement. Big blow to Paytm ahead of IPL starting tomorrow Paytm First Games – which recently onboarded Sachin Tendulkar as its brand ambassador – is the Indian digital payments’ leaders foray into the fantasy gaming segment. Google’s ban is a huge blow to the app as the IPL begins tomorrow and Paytm First Games was hoping to cash in on the cricketing event. Paytm First Games had an elaborate plan to establish its stronghold in the fantasy gaming market. The app aims to get over 100 million users during the upcoming Indian Premier League and has planned over 200 live events on the platform over the next six months. The other popular fantasy sports app Dream11 has never been available on the Playstore. Last year in June, the Bombay High Court had dismissed a PIL filed by an advocate and said that Dream11 is a game of skill and not of chance. The PIL had claimed that the online fantasy league game encourages gambling. Earlier, the Punjab and Haryana High Court too had declared the Dream11 format of fantasy sports as legal. The order said that the game requires considerable skill and judgment. This order was further ratified by the Supreme Court. BJP leader demands ban on online rummy games and apps In the ongoing Parliament session, BJP leader K C Ramamurthy in the Rajya Sabha demanded a ban on online rummy. “Sir, it is a misnomer that rummy is a game of skill. It is gambling and betting money through rummy in the greed of getting more is illegal as it ruins families financially and otherwise. It is unfortunate that many have become addicts, particularly in south India,” he said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/paytm-says-your-money-is-safe-and-the-app-will-be-back-soon-on-play-store/articleshow/78185321.cms">Paytm says your money is safe and the app will be back soon on Play Store</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/how-to/how-to-install-the-paytm-app-when-its-not-available-on-google-play-store/articleshow/78187022.cms">How to install the Paytm app on Xiaomi, Samsung and other phones</a>

Paytm app removed from the Google Play Store – big blow to Paytm First Games ahead of the IPL starting tomorrow

<ul><li><keyword id="6355629" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="google">Google</keyword> has released a fresh statement on September 21 (Monday) saying that cashbacks and vouchers don’t alone constitute a violation. </li><li>Paytm had released a blog on September 20 (Sunday) stating all that happened on Friday and said that “suddenly UPI cashback is called an “online casino” by Google”. </li><li>Paytm was removed from the Play Store for about seven hours on a Friday.</li></ul>The Indian tech ecosystem is witnessing a war raging between one of India’s leading digital payments players Paytm and the tech giant Google. After Paytm was removed from the Play Store for about seven hours on a Friday, founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma had gone on record to say that Google was acting like the “<a href="https://www.businesstoday.in/current/corporate/google-is-judge-jury-executioner-paytm-hits-back-after-play-store-takes-down-app/story/416522.html">judge, jury and executioner</a>”. Paytm released a blog on September 20 (Sunday) stating all that happened on Friday and said that “suddenly UPI cashback is called an “online casino” by Google”. Fighting back, Google has released a fresh statement on September 21 (Monday) saying that “offering cashbacks and vouchers alone do not constitute a violation of our Google Play gambling policies”. It also let out a warning in its statement. “Last week we reiterated our Play Store gambling policies. Our policies don’t allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting, including daily fantasy sports in India. We enforce our policies very thoughtfully to provide a safe and secure experience for consumers, while also giving developers the platform and tools they need to build sustainable businesses. In the case of repeated policy violations, we may take more serious action which may include terminating Google Play Developer accounts. Our policies are applied and enforced on all developers consistently,” Google said in a statement on Monday. The ‘policy’ in controversy While Google continues to say that the violation is regarding fantasy gaming promotions, Paytm has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/paytm-trains-its-guns-on-google-while-the-payments-app-is-back-in-play-store/articleshow/78190088.cms">had a different story to tell. </a> Paytm said that its recently launched mode of gamification where after every transaction you get a scratch card with a cricket sticker (a player's image and name), was the reason for the ban. “The Google Play Support team had written to us on 3 occasions (on August 20th, August 28th and September 1st) with some concerns on a separate matter of Paytm First Games’ promotion through the Paytm app. While we strenuously disagreed with the allegation that we are breaching the policy (and we disagree with the policy itself too), we immediately complied with the diktat that barred us from promoting our gaming subsidiary,” Paytm wrote on its blog. The move by Google has been questioned by many in the Indian startup ecosystem with even Paytm suggesting that it was on the lines of ‘anti-competitiveness’. The digital payments startup even went on to compare its own cricket-driven cashback program to that of its competitor Google Pay’s ‘Tez Shots’ campaign which runs on similar lines. “Presumably, such cashback campaigns of Google Pay are not in breach of Play Store policies, or maybe they are, but a different set of rules apply to Google’s own apps,” said Paytm. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/paytm-trains-its-guns-on-google-while-the-payments-app-is-back-in-play-store/articleshow/78190088.cms">INTERVIEW: Paytm trains its guns on Google while the payments app is back in Play Store</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/markets/news/indian-tech-companies-hcl-tech-wipro-infosys-tcs-share-price-are-green-today/articleshow/78228700.cms">It’s not just the DWS deal, Morgan Stanley's outlook has painted HCL Tech green⁠ — along with TCS, Infosys and Wipro</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/top-ten-phishing-examples-and-tricks-used-by-companies-to-test-their-employees-cybersecurity-smarts/slidelist/78228072.cms">Top ten phishing tricks that companies are using to test their employees’ cybersecurity smarts</a>

Google hits back at Paytm ⁠— reiterates that ‘repeated policy violations’ will lead to stricter actions

<ul><li>India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) today in a meeting has told all e-commerce companies in India to show the <keyword id="1340631" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Country-of-Origin">country of origin</keyword> in their product listings. </li><li>DPIIT had called the meeting to discuss the information given to consumers at these e-commerce platforms.</li><li>India’s government e-marketplace had earlier introduced the ‘Make in India’ filter for sellers to show the country of origin for the products.</li></ul>A day after the government e-marketplace introduced the ‘Make in India’ filter for sellers to show the country of origin for the products, India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) today in a meeting has told all e-commerce companies in India to show the country of origin in their product listings. DPIIT had called the meeting to discuss the information given to consumers at these e-commerce platforms. However, <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/sme/dpiit-mandates-display-of-country-of-origin-for-ecommerce-companies-like-amazon-flipkart-snapdeal-grofers/2002285/">the e-commerce leaders</a> have requested DPIIT to include sellers and traders in the meetings as they list the products on the platform. "We welcome and wholeheartedly support the government's decision to promote Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. We are fully committed to promote India made products and the manufacturing sector in the country. We have already initiated discussions with our sellers, merchant partners on the next steps to drive this initiative further,” said a <keyword id="6357120" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="paytm">Paytm</keyword> spokesperson. The feature comes at a time when due to the Indo-China border clashes, there has been a call to dump Chinese products and people have been uninstalling Chinese apps as well. India’s government e-marketplace (GEM) had taken the same step to promote the Make in India initiative which got a further boost from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self reliant India). “Sellers, who had already uploaded their products before the introduction of this new feature on GeM, are being reminded regularly to update the Country of Origin, with a warning that their products shall be removed from GeM if they fail to update the same,” says the official release of the government. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/reliance-industries-shares-are-worth-more-than-hdfc-bank-icici-bank-and-kotak-mahindra-bank-combined/slidelist/76504066.cms">Reliance Industries’ shares are worth more than HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank combined</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/mukesh-ambani-radhakishan-damani-and-shiv-nadar-took-over-10-years-to-become-a-billionaire/slidelist/76547186.cms">Indians took 17 years on an average to make their first billion— and it has gotten a lot faster recently</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/the-13-billion-hinduja-brothers-the-richest-people-in-the-united-kingdom-are-fighting-with-each-other-over-letter-dispute/articleshow/76548920.cms">The $13 billion Hinduja brothers, the richest people in the United Kingdom, are fighting with each other over a letter dispute</a>

India tells Amazon, Flipkart, Paytm Mall and all others to show 'country of origin' next to the products

A day after <keyword id="6357120" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="PayTM">Paytm</keyword> launched an app-based Point of Sale (PoS) feature on its platform, which allowed shopkeepers to accept the payment via debit and credit card, it discontinued the service, citing security issues. 
 
The new feature was supposed to eliminate the need for a PoS terminal or a card swipe machine. 
 
"Post our launch, we have had several discussions with stakeholders on how we can make this process even more secure. Based on some suggestions from the industry, we have decided to add additional certifications and features before making it available to merchants. We will re-launch this product as soon as we have updated the product. We are working closely with everyone in the cards ecosystem with the commitment to expand digital payment acceptance in the country,” said Paytm on its website. 
 
Paytm also said the launch was in line with its infrastructure-light, simple, scalable and affordable model, where anyone with a mobile phone should be able to accept payments. 
 "In this payment flow, we do not store any card details in our App or in our servers. The transaction is completed on the bank's page and follows the two factor authentication guidelines mandated in India. Paytm is a PCI DSS (Payment Cards industry <keyword id="2055049" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Data-Security-Standard">Data Security Standard</keyword>) certified company that has it's IT systems audited periodically by certified independent auditors,” said Paytm in a blog post. 
 
However, it seems that Paytm definetly overlooked some problems and it may have risen to flaws. 
 
Ever since Prime Minister announced the demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1000, Paytm has been moving at a breakneck speed to capture and disrupt a large part of the market with its e-wallet. 
(image: IndiaTimes)

Paytm rolls back its app-based PoS feature, a day after its launch. Here’s why

<ul><li><keyword id="149865" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chinese-hackers">Chinese hackers</keyword> are increasingly targeting Indian <keyword id="4112095" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Unicorn-Startups">unicorn startups</keyword> like Swiggy, <keyword id="6357120" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="paytm">Paytm</keyword>, Ola and Byju’s to steal sensitive information. </li><li>The motivation is no longer to cause harm to their reputation but to get away with as much user insight as possible without causing too much noise. </li><li>“They are hunting those companies because they have a lot of data,” Kumar Ritesh, the CEO of Singapore-based cybersecurity firm Cyfirma told Business Insider in an interview. </li></ul>Hackers usually follow the money but now they have now set their sights on a new pot of gold at the end of the rainbow — data. And, their newest targets are unicorn startups in India. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="76528261" title="Top 20 Indian organisations under threat of attack from Chinese hackers to “teach India a lesson” amid border tension" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The geopolitical tensions between India and China have led to a surge in cybercriminals trying to infiltrate companies like Swiggy, Paytm, Ola, Byju’s and OYO among others. Singapore-based cybersecurity company Cyfirma has a new platform called DeCYFIR which can spot threats before an attack occurs by analysing conversations across the dark web and hacker forums. Traditionally, cybercriminals have honed in on telecom companies. Jio, in particular, is a crowd favourite. Right now, the names of <keyword id="982553" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-startups">Indian startups</keyword> have started popping up in these hidden corners of the world wide web. And, the frequency only seems to be increasing. Data hungry hackers Cyberattacks on Indian firms by state-sponsored Chinese hackers were primarily driven by the idea of causing damage to the company’s reputation. However, over the last three months, it’s no longer about creating noise. Instead, it’s about getting behind the defensive walls of companies in order to exfiltrate personal, sensitive, and financial information. “A lot of young companies that started five to ten years ago and have grown to become unicorns — who do a lot of customer services, who collect personal information and financial information, and are supplying you with food, education or other things — and they [cybercriminals] are hunting those companies because they have a lot of data,” Kumar Ritesh, the CEO of Singapore-based cybersecurity firm Cyfirma told Business Insider in an interview. Unicorn startups, in particular, are powerhouses of data and intellectual property. Getting access to that data has a wider impact than just taking down their website. Ritesh cited the example of Chinese hackers stealing data from a popular Japanese cosmetics company. They were able to get away with the IP of the company's signature face cream. The cream soon resurfaced under a Chinese brand name — made using the same formula — undercutting the price of the Japanese company by 30%. The uncertainty around Huawei, the ban on Chinese apps in the Indian market along with the investment restrictions are pushing China out of the loop when it comes to data from Indian users. Ritesh believes that the uptake in attacks is not temporary and won’t die down after the coronavirus pandemic. New players are entering the field of cyber warfare, and the digital world is all set to get more combative. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/research/news/red-bricks-dont-just-make-walls-they-can-now-power-your-house-too/articleshow/77486542.cms">Walls can be power banks for houses as red bricks turn into energy-storing batteries</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/it-and-media-employees-are-in-no-hurry-to-get-back-to-office-not-until-there-are-proper-policies-in-place/articleshow/77486082.cms">IT and media employees are in no hurry to get back to office — not until there are proper policies in place</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/india-approves-another-1-2-billion-for-defence-over-and-above-the-5-5-billion-last-month/articleshow/77487432.cms">HAL's share price jumps 4% after India approves defence projects worth $1.2 billion</a>

After Jio, India's unicorn startups are the top target for Chinese hackers trying to get their hands on Indian users' data

The biggest benefactors of the entire cash ban episode have undoubtedly been the e-wallet companies. From the fateful night of Nov 8, 2016, each of the country’s e-wallets has claimed an exponential increase in registrations, however, the figures have now come to be heavily contested by each other. The rivalry has now gained epic proportions with the largest now publicly claiming the other’s numbers as inflated. 
​ The strongest voice, in this case, has emerged from <keyword id="143842" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mobikwik">MobiKwik</keyword>’s co-founder, Upasana Taka, claiming that basis <keyword id="30067" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI">RBI</keyword>’s data, <keyword id="6357120" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="PayTM">PayTM</keyword> was flaunting numbers that are largely inflated. This was mainly because RBI published data that said that prepaid payment instruments including mobile wallets had made about 88 mn transactions in December 2016. Now, the thing to remember here is RBI falls back on data as reported by these very e-wallets and disclosure isn’t mandatory in nature. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/the-most-popular-parts-of-delhi-mumbai-and-bengaluru-where-people-invested-in-real-estate-in-2016/articleshow/56503428.cms">ALSO READ: The most popular parts of Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru where people invested in real estate in 2016</a> 
 
On the other hand, PayTM had claimed that it crossed 177 Mn wallet users in the month of December 2016, with 80 mn active users translating to at least 80 Mn transactions. 
 
Given the war of words, we decided to dig a little deeper and approached a third party organization that most e-wallets and their investors rely on as a measure of business growth. 
 
<a href="http://Meet N. Chandrasekaran, Tata Sons new chairman and Ex-TCS boss">ALSO READ: Meet N. Chandrasekaran, Tata Sons new chairman, and Ex-TCS boss</a> 
 This is what the <keyword id="1646890" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="App-Annie">App Annie</keyword> numbers had to say: 
 
Paytm 
• Paytm App downloads touched 7.2Mn in December 2016 
• Monthly active user-base jumped to 92 Mn in December from 78 Mn in November 
 
<keyword id="6377963" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Freecharge">Freecharge</keyword> 
• App downloads touched 2.1 Mn in December 2016 
• Freecharge’s Monthly active users were at 29 Mn in December 2016 
 
Mobikwik 
• App downloads touched 1.1 Mn in December 2016 
• Mobikwik’s monthly user base was at 15Mn in December 2016 
 Commenting on this, Mrs. <keyword id="3870166" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="taku">Taku</keyword> from Mobikwik said, “This data can’t be a basis for comparison as it is analytical data which varies from company to company. All digital wallets are supposed to report to RBI about their numbers and there is a stark difference between these two data points.’’ 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/freecharge-integrates-with-indus-os-to-increase-30-user-base-in-the-next-6-months/articleshow/56499858.cms">ALSO READ: Freecharge integrates with Indus OS to increase 30% user base in the next 6 months</a> 
 
When asked to share their own analytical data, Mobikwik spokesperson said that they don’t use any for comparison. 
 
Paytm refused to give comments on the different data points. 
 
All we can say is this space will definitely heat up further, a space that investors will closely be watching out before they put their money where the mouth is.

Exclusive: App relied on by investors shows that PayTM clearly lead the
e-wallets pack in December 2016

<ul><li><keyword id="6357886" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="phonepe" source="Orion">PhonePe</keyword> has opened its data bank for everyone with the launch of its latest product called Pulse.</li><li>The company’s CEO Sameer Nigam noted that 90% of PhonePe’s transactions are UPI-based, so they are not allowed to charge commisions on it. </li><li>Interestingly, PhonePe is the biggest player in the UPI market with control over 45% transactions on a monthly basis.</li></ul>Walmart-owned digital payment firm PhonePe on Thursday, September 2, opened its data bank for everyone with the launch of its latest product called Pulse. Pulse — available as a website and report — will give deeper insights into <keyword id="12008998" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="phonepe-data" source="Orion">PhonePe data</keyword> across payments and financial services. The platform as well as the report will be updated quarterly with latest insights about PhonePe’s transaction value and volume, financial services sold on the platform and more. This product includes PhonePe data bank in anonymised format. Users can check out the data at <a href="https://www.phonepe.com/pulse/">Pulse.phonepe.com</a> <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 468pt;" class="redcator-table-advance"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Key takeaways from Pulse </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">PhonePe has processed over 2000 crore transactions to date. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">The company has its presence spread across 300 million users in 19,000 pin codes. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Over 63% of first time transactions on the PhonePe app are to transfer money, confirming that this category acts as the initial hook for customers to download a unified payments interface (UPI) app. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">The Walmart-owned company processed nearly 400 crore transactions worth ₹7.4 lakh crore in the April to June quarter of 2021. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Last quarter it reported nearly 150 crore merchant payments and 174 crore peer-to-peer payments. </td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody></table>Sameer Nigam, founder and chief executive (CEO) of PhonePe, believes that such a data bank could actually lead to some conversations among policymakers and bring about a change in the digital payments network. The major change that any fintech player like PhonePe is looking for is being able to make money out of <keyword id="4052276" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="upi-transactions" source="Orion">UPI transactions</keyword>. This is because it's the largest digital payments format, which witnessed 3.5 billion transactions in August 2021. Currently, the Indian government has banned payments players from charging customers/merchants on UPI transactions. Although, the same players can charge on other non-UPI digital transactions like card payments or wallet transactions. This is known as the merchant discount rate (MDR), which is a fee paid by merchants to accept payments. Nigam, in the Pulse launch event held on Thursday, highlighted that currently 85-90% of PhonePe transactions are carried out using UPI that has "zero MDR". For perspective, PhonePe actually processed nearly 400 crore transactions worth ₹7.47 lakh crore in the April-June quarter of 2021. A 90% rate would be that PhonePe did not earn any money over 350 crore transactions. “It is our hope that if more and more data is transparent, policymakers will see perhaps on a lifecycle, but they will clearly see implications of decisions. For example, like zero MDR. I do believe that it limits market participation. NPCI data shows the number of participants in the market has come down by almost two-third from 45 companies that were processing UPI to and now the number on NPCI websites is 15,” Nigam said. “I think it will start a lot of conversation,” he added. Despite being the biggest player in the India UPI market — with a market share of 43-45% on a monthly basis — PhonePe reported a revenue of ₹371.8 crore in financial year 2020. This was almost double of the number it showcased in FY2019. Meanwhile, sources in Paytm say that they earn about INR 1,700-₹1,800 crore through digital payment. At that time, the company was processing about 800-900 million UPI transactions on a monthly basis. Currently, it’s at 900 million to 1 billion monthly, as per National Payments Council of India (NPCI). SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/uber-has-ola-zomato-has-swiggy-but-whos-urban-company-competing-with/articleshow/85835674.cms">Uber has Ola, Zomato has Swiggy but who’s Urban Company competing with?</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/zomato-is-shutting-down-its-singapore-and-uk-based-subsidiaries/articleshow/85858611.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Zomato is shutting down its Singapore and UK-based subsidiaries</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/paytm-valuation-has-increased-by-nearly-40-a-share-heres-how/articleshow/85826886.cms">Paytm valuation has increased by nearly $40 a share — here’s how</a>

PhonePe is citing data to argue that merchants should pay for UPI transactions

<ul><li>“Unapproved” health products and drugs won’t be allowed on <keyword id="2658149" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="PlayStore">PlayStore</keyword> </li><li>Part of an ongoing effort by the tech giant to control spam and otherwise illegal apps </li><li>Spamming apps that gather data illegally also recently removed</li></ul><keyword id="6355629" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="google">Google</keyword> is cracking down on Playstore apps that promote or sell “unapproved” health products and drugs including several herbal and homeopathic supplements. These range from fitness supplements and a range of slimming and weight loss products like Vitalex, fat burning hormones, Homeopathic HCG, weight loss coffee and herbal viagra, all of which aren’t approved by the US food and drug regulators. Some of products also <a href="https://www.techradar.com/news/google-bans-dodgy-diet-pills-and-snake-oil-salesmen-from-the-play-store">contain </a>ephedra, which is linked to heart attacks and has proven to be harmful. According to a recent update in Google app developer policy, several restrictions have been introduced, as part of an ongoing effort by the tech giant to control spam and illegal apps, Android Police <a href="https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/01/22/google-bans-apps-that-promote-or-sell-unapproved-substances-on-the-play-store/">reported. </a> It is also reportedly added clarifications to what constitutes inappropriate content on its apps, including bullying and harassment, and seeking profit from a tragedy. It also <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/google-bans-apps-that-sell-herbal-viagra-and-other-unapproved-drugs-on-play-store-1437638-2019-01-23">recently</a> removed as many as 22 apps that were spamming or gathering data illegally, for fraudulent ads. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/in-india-amazons-fight-is-not-just-with-flipkart-but-with-paytm-google-pay-and-truecaller/articleshow/67456165.cms">In India, Amazon's fight is not just with Flipkart, but with PayTM, Google Pay and Truecaller</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/amazon-pay-wants-your-aadhaar-number/articleshow/67488694.cms">This is why Amazon wants your Aadhaar number</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/policy/amazon-flipkart-and-other-e-commerce-companies-could-face-a-massive-loss-of-46-billion-thanks-to-indias-new-e-commerce-policy/articleshow/67570947.cms">India’s curbs on e-commerce businesses could cost them $46 billion by 2022: Report</a>

Google bans apps promoting weight loss formulas, herbal viagra and harmful health products and tips

<ul><li>Global technology companies <keyword id="6355629" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="google">Google</keyword>, <keyword id="18635" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon">Amazon</keyword>, <keyword id="6354616" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword>, and <keyword id="6354576" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="facebook">Facebook</keyword>, remain apprehensive about India’s new data laws after being questioned by India’s <keyword id="74228" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Joint-Parliamentary-Committee">Joint Parliamentary Committee</keyword> (JPC) on the Personal Data Protection Bill this week.</li><li>The only indigenous company to be called for deposition for far, Paytm, told the committee that it’s open to regulation.</li><li>All these companies have been given one week to prepare formal responses and submit affidavits. </li></ul>India’s Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has been questioning Facebook, Amazon, Twitter, Google, and even Paytm over concerns regarding data protection and data privacy. The JPC may also <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/parliamentary-panel-to-meet-airtel-on-data-protection-bill-11603966666145.html">reportedly</a> summon India’s top two telecom giants, <keyword id="6354504" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="reliance-jio">Reliance Jio</keyword> and <keyword id="15491" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Airtel">Airtel</keyword>, and cab-hailing services, Uber and Ola, next week. While Paytm has welcomed India’s new Personal Data Protection Bill, Google, Twitter, and Amazon have shown some restraint. Google’s response may have been more positive than the others, but it does not imply its undivided support. The consultation process is meant to increase the country’s understanding of how these companies use, store and mobilise data, according to the JPC’s chairperson Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Meenakshi Lekhi. <div type="image" title="googleplus_edited" msid="78949846" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Google&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Google Google’s representatives asserted that the Personal Data Protection Bill, once enacted, would strengthen the framework around data privacy and security in India. However, the global tech giant maintained that the move to localise data isn’t in the best interests of data protection and data privacy, according to the <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jpc-questions-google-paytm-over-china-links/story-fJcEdDh2hyWSwvzyLVr0CJ.html">Hindustan Times. </a>Google highlighted that localization of data would be at odds with open trade and modern-day data protection standards. It submitted a 25-page report arguing its stance. However, it held no sway with the committee. The JPC questioned Google over its relationship with China — and the Chinese Navy in particular. It was also asked about its market control when it comes to the smartphone market since more than 90% of smartphones manufactured worldwide use Google’s Android platform as their operating system. Considering the mountain-high revenues the company generates in India, Google was asked if it thought the effective tax rate it paid was ‘absurdly low.’ Google evaded some questions and was unable to answer others. The head of the committee, Meenakshi Lekhi, has instructed the international giant to submit a detailed affidavit in one week. “They themselves are the platforms, sellers, and news agencies. And Google itself has the control button to which information will come first, which will come later or which news will flash and which will be suppressed. So how it can be a neutral platform?” Lekhi told PTI after the meeting. <div type="image" title="facebook" msid="78949862" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Facebook&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Facebook Facebook saw the exit of its public policy head in India, Ankhi Das, just a few days after her deposition. Das was grilled for two hours by the JPC on Monday and asked some tough and searching questions by the panel members from across the political spectrum, sources told PTI. According to the social media giant, India’s new data protection laws can propel the country’s digital economy and global digital trade. “We believe that India’s data protection law has the potential to propel the country’s digital economy and global digital trade, and we wholeheartedly support this effort,” said the company’s spokesperson. <div type="image" title="amazon" msid="78949879" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Amazon offices in India&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Amazon Amazon had earlier come under fire for declining the JPC’s invitation to appear because the company claimed it did not have anyone with the relevant expertise to address the committee’s concerns. However, yesterday, both Amazon India and Amazon Web Services showed up, according to <a href="https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/amazon-appears-before-joint-parliamentary-committee-following-misunderstanding-7327321.htm">CNBC TV-18.</a> The company claimed that the entire episode was a ‘misunderstanding’ due to international travel restrictions given the coronavirus pandemic. Amazon was questioned over its revenue model and how much tax it pays in India. And, since India is a considerable part of its revenue generation, the committee also questioned the company over how it reinvests back in the country. The JPC has asked Amazon to submit its answers in writing in one week. <div type="image" title="twitter 2 unsplash" msid="78949889" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Twitter&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Twitter Ahead of being questioned by the JPC, the social networking giant issued an apology for showing Leh as a part of China. The committee had earlier asked Twitter to submit a public apology and submit an affidavit regarding the issue. “Leh being shown as a part of China can be construed as an act of treason and is punishable with unto seven years of imprisonment,” Lekhi told <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/act-of-treason-parliament-panel-slams-twitter-on-leh-map-fiasco/story-kBG0bJcSHp2bQQblA1gbCJ.html">Hindustan Times</a>. “The committee was unanimous in flagging the issue and expressed its stern disapproval.” Twitter also came under fire for its practices regarding hate speech and taking down on accounts. According to PTI, Lekhi believes that Twitter may have a little too much control. ”Shadow banning, banning policy… there is no clarity about it. Such actions are very subjective... Twitter is becoming a law unto themselves, and under these circumstances, they are violating Article 19 of the Constitution about the freedom of expression,” she said. <div type="image" title="paytm" msid="78949896" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Paytm&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Paytm Paytm is the only indigenous company to have been summoned by the JPC so far. And, it went to the panel with its solution. Paytm pitched that the government should handle the encryption and decryption of data held by global companies while letting data cross borders. However, the proposal was quickly withdrawn after several objections by some of the members of the committee, according to <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/parliamentary-panel-question-paytm-about-chinese-investment-google-over-resisting-data-localisation/articleshow/78942848.cms">Times of India.</a> The Vijay Shekhar Sharma-led enterprise was asked about the quantum of Chinese investments it has received and why some of its revenues were directed back to China. It was also probed for details behind the temporary removal of its app from Google Play Store for violating its ‘gambling’ policies. Paytm acknowledged that 35% of its investment was Chinese but that investors don’t have any say in how the company is run. They also clarified that while some personal and sensitive data may be transferred outside India for ‘processing,’ this only occurs when there is explicit consent from the user. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/kepler-estimates-there-are-at-least-300-million-potentially-habitable-planets-within-the-milky-way-galaxy/articleshow/78946863.cms">Kepler estimates there are at least 300 million potentially habitable planets within the Milky Way galaxy</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/mit-has-a-new-ai-model-that-can-detect-asymptomatic-covid-19-patients-just-by-the-using-the-sound-of-their-coughs-recorded-over-phone-calls/articleshow/78927475.cms">MIT has a new AI model that can detect asymptomatic COVID-19 patients just by the using the sound of their coughs recorded over phone calls</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tata-communications-executive-explains-how-iot-is-expanding-beyond-manufacturing-and-which-sectors-are-showing-the-fastest-growth/articleshow/78924587.cms">EXCLUSIVE: Tata Communications’ IoT head explains how COVID is driving the next wave of Internet of Things</a>

Google, Amazon, Twitter, and Facebook remain apprehensive about India’s new data laws but Paytm is open to regulation

<keyword id="198636" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vijay-Shekhar-Sharma">Vijay Shekhar Sharma</keyword>, the founder of Noida-based ecommerce company <keyword id="6357120" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="PayTM">Paytm</keyword> has urged <keyword id="6356988" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="TRAI">TRAI</keyword> to not allow apps on closed communication networks or intranets. He says that doing so would prevent the misuse of a clause in the new rule barring discriminatory pricing of data services. 
 
"If a kind of content is available on the Internet, it can't be made available to a closed network at a differential price - that's the clarity we want," he told ET. 
 
Sharma has asked TRAI to be specific in its definition of "closed communication electronic network (CECN)," which can prove to be a loophole in the regulator's recent order that bans discriminatory pricing, exempting data services offered over such intranets. 
 
As of now, a closed communication network is the one that can be created without being directly connecting to the Internet. 
 Those who advocate net neutrality and free Internet are concerned that <keyword id="6383126" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Telcos">telcos</keyword> can use this loophole to offer data services at differential rates. 
 
TRAI chairman RS Sharma is of the view that the regulation clearly says that all content that is available on the Internet falls under the new regulation, but if a content that isn't on the Web, then that content won’t be governed by the rule. 
 
Telecom companies have also asked for clarity on the clause that exempts data services offered over closed networks, so that they can be sure of no nuisances in the future.

You Searched For "paytm app ban" and got 11 results

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Paytm rolls back its app-based PoS feature, a day after its launch. Here’s why

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PhonePe is citing data to argue that merchants should pay for UPI transactions

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