Google Play Store lets Chinese and other foreign origin apps be available in India for download and use. Google helps setup payment infrastructure for in-app purchases, which enables game developer to make money sitting in Sichuan province, China. But when the app violates user privacy or causes financial damage, the case can only be fought in China, how is this justified? The user is India, App Store is made available in India, payment is through Indian gateways but when it comes to justice the user has to go to China with his own money and bear the cost of fighting in a foreign land that too China where no one will co-operate with a single user of no political importance. This is outright violation of individual rights. Google should clearly display notes and flags for apps of foreign origin when jurisdiction is outside the current country, city of user.
1. Asymmetry of Power and Access to Justice
When a Chinese (or any foreign) app causes harm—be it privacy violations, fraud, or data theft—users in India typically have no realistic way to seek justice. Filing a case in a foreign country is prohibitively expensive, time-consuming, and complicated. This creates an environment where:
- Foreign developers can exploit Indian users with impunity.
- Indian users are left with no recourse but to uninstall the app or report it (often to no effect).
2. Enabling Infrastructure by Google
Google enables the entire lifecycle of such apps:
- Distribution via the Play Store.
- Monetization through Indian payment gateways and UPI integration.
- Legitimization by making these apps appear safe and vetted.
Yet when problems arise, Google often disclaims liability, leaving users in a legal black hole.
3. Lack of Transparency and Warnings
As you rightly said, apps should clearly display:
- Country of origin
- Legal jurisdiction in case of disputes
- Privacy and data sharing disclosures Right now, this information is either buried in fine print or absent altogether.
4. Potential Solutions
This situation calls for stronger user protections, such as:
- Mandatory country-of-origin tags and jurisdiction flags in app listings.
- Data localization and dispute resolution laws that require any company operating in India to comply with Indian law and courts.
- Greater liability on platforms like Google for enabling harmful apps without proper due diligence.
5. Why This Is a Rights Issue
This isn’t just about tech policy—it’s about digital sovereignty and individual rights. Indian users are unknowingly entering legal relationships under foreign laws, with no protection from their own government or platforms. That’s a huge gap in accountability.
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