Centre asks Google, Apple app stores not to onboard illegal, unsafe apps

The government is reportedly tracking loan applications on Apple's App Store and Google Play Store, said Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar. The Centre has issued an advisory to technology giants Apple and Google asking them not to onboard unsafe applications. This comes in wake of reports of lending apps harassing their borrowers.  

“Today both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store have many applications that are used by the Indians. We are tracking one set of applications which are loan applications...We have issued an advisory to both Google and Apple that they must not onboard unsafe applications or illegal applications,” the minister said.  

“It is our government's objective and mission to keep the internet safe and trusted for all 'digital nagriks'...We intend to have the earliest meeting with the RBI to make sure there is a whitelisting that means to make a norm of only allowing permitted loan applications on these two stores,” he added. 

In July this year, Cupertino-based Apple had said it removed several lending apps from its App Store in India following reports of them harassing and threatening borrowers came into light. 

Several reviewers had claimed that such loan apps offered fast-track loans to the customers but levied heavy charges. As per customers, the lenders often employed blackmailing tactics to intimidate borrowers into repaying the amount.