Google has put the move down to a violation of its Play Store policies. However, it allowed the app to remain on the store for 10 days, over which time it amassed more than five million downloads and for two days was the number one app in India’s Android store.
Remove China Apps cannot detect apps that are pre-installed on Chinese smartphones, but by flagging apps that meet its criteria it did impact TikTok, Zoom, ShareIt, CamScanner, and the Alibaba-owned UC browser.
The app was developed by Indian entity OneTouch AppLabs, which “specialises in custom mobile application development testing and management services”. A brief bio on its WordPress-powered website – the domain for which was registered on May 8 on a 12-month licence – essentially claims that these services are provided for little to no charge.
It reads: “We offer very low or no cost mobile application services for the innovative thinkers.”
Under a tab labelled “you are awesome”, OneTouch AppLabs makes following statements:
Capacity has reached out to OneTouch AppLabs to ask about more about its business model and the people whose innovative ideas it brings to life.
However, until a response is received it’s worth taking another look at the statement, which goes on to say: “Thank You everyone who is helping PM Modi’s initiative Self Reliant India.”
Launched by Modi earlier this week, SRI spans wide-ranging initiatives such as lifting the Covid-19 lockdown and extending financial support for SMEs.
Explaining the scheme, Modi is quoted as saying: “To bring India on the path of rapid development again, five things are very important to build a self-reliant India: intent, inclusion, investment, infrastructure and innovation.”
In this context it’s worth asking if Remove China Apps was politically motivated. After all The Economist did call the start of the "tech cold war" back in mid-May.
Given India’s increasingly close ties with the US, a global shift to reducing reliance on Chinese manufacturing and technology, and India’s own relationship with China, it isn’t beyond reason. It would be interesting to know how much they were paid.
