India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued three takedown orders to Google between April 29 and May 15, 2025, directing the removal of over 3,000 apps from the Google Play Store.
The disclosures were briefly visible on the Lumen Database in August before being taken down.
What kind of apps were targeted?
The orders covered a wide range of apps, including VPN services, Islamic religious apps, streaming platforms, language tools, AI-powered generators, and even utility applications such as calculators and wallpapers.
Where were these apps based?
A Moneycontrol analysis found that a significant number of the apps originated from Pakistan, alongside others traced to developers in different regions.
Under what legal powers were the orders issued?
It is understood that these directives fall under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which empowers the Centre to block public access to online content in the interest of sovereignty, security, or public order.
Why now?
The timing of the notices coincides with recent border skirmishes between India and Pakistan. This has added weight to the view that the takedowns may have been driven by national security considerations, although MeitY has not explained its rationale.
Why were the disclosures removed from Lumen?
The removal requests were first recorded on the Lumen Database, which archives legal and government takedown notices. However, the entries were later withdrawn from public view. It remains unclear whether this was done at the request of the government or by Google itself.
Moneycontrol has reached out to the IT ministry and Google with queries on the matter and the article will be updated when a response is received.
What about other takedown orders like this?
Earlier, Moneycontrol exclusively reported that a separate disclosure published on February 18, 2025, revealed that 119 apps available in India, mostly video and voice chat platforms linked to developers in China and Hong Kong, were also ordered to be blocked.
A smaller number of affected apps traced back to Singapore, the US, the UK, and Australia.
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