Google Removes Controversial Video Chat App Chamet from Play Store

Alphabet Inc GOOG GOOGL Google booted out the live video chat app Chamet from the Play Store, citing violations of its user-generated content (UGC) policy. 

The app, which lets users call stream hosts with payments privately, was pulled from the Play Store in August, TechCrunch reports.

The decision to remove Chamet comes from Google's policy to remove apps that primarily feature objectionable UGC. Although Chamet had warnings against broadcasting certain content, it contained suggestive material and ads.

Chamet topped charts in several Play Store categories as a top-grossing app.

Chamet gained traction, particularly in India, for its live video streaming feature, where users could engage with hosts who danced or discussed their lives. The app's success translated into significant financial gains, with users in India spending over $13.4 million on Chamet between January and July and $15.4 million in 2022. Lifetime spending on Chamet in India totaled $38 million, accompanied by over 26 million lifetime downloads.

Notably, Chamet's removal from the Play Store has raised questions about potential actions against other live video chat apps in the same category. 

Google removed 3,500 personal loan apps from the Play Store for violating the Play policy requirements in India in 2022.

Meanwhile, the company drew increasing scrutiny by global regulators for its Play Store commissions.

Regulators in multiple countries chastised Google's Play Store commissions, billing systems, and anti-competitive practices.

Price Action: GOOG shares traded higher by 0.44% at $137.96 premarket on the last check Friday.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.