'Remove China Apps' removed from Google Play Store: Here's why
Remove China Apps, a viral application that promised to delete apps made by Chinese firms, has been removed from the Google Play Store. The action, first reported by TechCrunch, was taken by the internet giant after the app was found violating its 'Deceptive Behavior Policy' for apps. Here is all you need to know about it.
App to detect and delete Chinese apps
Developed by Jaipur-based OneTouch AppLabs, Remove China Apps served as a dedicated platform to detect and delete apps developed either in China or by Chinese developers. The makers of the app said that it was developed for 'educational purposes' and they do not force/motivate any user to delete any app. However, the application itself does the exact opposite of that.
And, it was an instant hit in India
Within just two weeks of its launch, Remove China Apps had over 50 lakh installs, an average rating of 4.8-stars, a place in Google Play Store's top free apps' chart for India, and a long line of positive reviews. All of this was attributed to the anti-China sentiments prevailing in India due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent border dispute with China.
No issues were detected in the app
We tried the app and it had no issues as such. OneTouch AppLabs, which offers app development services for Android and iOS platforms, did not monetize the app with ads. Plus, it did not take any major permissions on the device of the user or forced them to register or sign in for using the detection and deletion service.
So, what went wrong?
Even though the app had no major issue, it was found violating the 'Deceptive Behavior Policy' of Google Play Store, TechCrunch reported. Under this rule, an application listed on the store cannot change settings/features of a phone without the user's permission, "encourage or incentivize users into removing or disabling third-party apps" or "mislead users into removing or disabling third-party apps".
OneTouch AppLabs confirmed the removal on Twitter
Evidently, people want the app back
Following the app's removal, people started expressing their dissatisfaction over Google's move. Some claimed it's an act of communism, some said Google is siding with China and acting under its pressure, while others threatened to ditch Google itself. Meanwhile, many other users simply urged the company to bring the much-loved app back to the store.
You can download APK to continue using Remove China Apps
Now, unless the decision is reversed, which seems highly unlikely, Remove China Apps cannot be downloaded on Android. If you had the app on your phone, it will continue to work. But, in case you had uninstalled it for some reason, the only way to get it back is by using an APK and sideloading it. This is the only available workaround.
