An apt role for the state in these app store wars

Of late, Indian apps have been up in arms against what they see as undue clout exercised by Google over their business through stiff conditions for enlistment on its Play Store and its proposal to charge a “gateway toll” on app transactions. Their hackles were raised after the Big Tech major said last week that, starting next September, it would globally enforce its billing system and also levy a 30% commission—as Apple’s App Store does—on revenues made by apps downloaded on mobile phones from its store. In response, various tech startups rallied behind a banner of revolt raised earlier by Paytm’s Vijay Shekhar Sharma, who had alleged unfair treatment of its gaming app by Google, which has a rival service for online payments. Such was the outcry over Play Store’s new policy that the Indian government took note. On Monday, the US-based company seemed to soften its stance, saying it would defer the levy on Indian apps until 31 March 2022. But that has not soothed nerves.