Google and Meta may not be routinely shielded from legal responsibility anymore simply because they host third-party content material in India, based on authorized consultants. The shift comes as nation’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) appears into cash laundering allegations tied to online betting apps.
Each tech giants have been referred to as into the ED’s headquarters on July 21, however they didn’t present up. They have been then issued new summons for July 28. Google did flip up for the assembly, however Meta didn’t ship anybody for the probe into the identical situation.
Google Says : We're dedicated to maintaining our platforms secure and safe, prohibiting the promotion of unlawful playing advertisements. Our steady AI developments, complemented by human experience, guarantee all advertisements on our surfaces adjust to native legal guidelines and our strict advert insurance policies, and… https://t.co/eo5l4RUDyd
— Aseem Manchanda (@aseemmanchanda) July 21, 2025
A Google spokesperson instructed ReadWrite that the corporate is “dedicated to maintaining our platforms secure and safe, prohibiting the promotion of unlawful playing advertisements.” The corporate additionally stated, “Our steady AI developments, complemented by human experience, guarantee all advertisements on our surfaces adjust to native legal guidelines and our strict advert insurance policies, and defend customers from evolving threats. Final 12 months alone, we eliminated 247.4 million advertisements and suspended 2.9 million advertiser accounts in India.
“We’re extending our full help and cooperation to investigating companies to carry unhealthy actors accountable and maintain customers secure.”
Why India is accusing Google and Meta of selling sketchy betting apps
The ED is accusing Google and Meta of actively serving to promote betting apps which can be beneath investigation for severe monetary crimes like cash laundering and unlawful wire transfers, sometimes called ‘hawala’. Authorities say each corporations gave these apps prime advert area and allowed their related web sites to realize visibility, which helped them unfold extra extensively.
“If it may be confirmed that they’d the data of unlawful operations of such platforms, they may very well be liable beneath varied legislations.” – Gaurav Bhalla, Ahlawat & Associates Associate
The investigation is specializing in a big net of betting apps, lots of that are disguised as skill-based games however are literally operating unlawful playing operations. The platforms are thought to have made crores of rupees in unlawful funds, typically funneled by way of advanced hawala routes to dodge detection.
Tech giants could qualify for ‘secure harbour’
Authorized consultants have defined to ReadWrite that digital platforms might face severe prison expenses in the event that they knowingly promote unlawful betting operations. Gaurav Bhalla, a companion at Ahlawat & Associates, said {that a} platform’s authorized threat largely depends upon whether or not it qualifies for “secure harbour” beneath Section 79 of the Data Expertise Act, 2000.
“The first side to be decided whereas ascertaining whether or not they could be liable or not would depend upon whether or not they’re capable of declare secure harbour,” Bhalla stated. “In the event that they’re capable of declare the defence, a number of their legal responsibility might be minimized. Nevertheless, if it may be confirmed that they’d the data of unlawful operations of such platforms, they may very well be liable beneath varied legislations.”
He identified that there have been circumstances the place intermediaries have been held chargeable for third-party content material after they didn’t meet the factors for secure harbor. That features appearing solely as a passive channel, not altering content material, and following the federal government’s due diligence tips.
Bhalla stated platforms lose that safety when “the middleman has conspired or abetted or aided or induced” an unlawful act, or in the event that they fail to behave after being notified by authorities. “If the middleman has data that it’s facilitating the operation of on-line betting platforms, it wouldn’t be capable of declare secure harbour (and might be held answerable for the content material hosted on their platform).”
With out secure harbor, platforms might come beneath the scanner of the Prevention of Cash Laundering Act for enabling unlawful monetary exercise, and may be charged with abetment beneath the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for promoting banned companies.
However the legal responsibility doesn’t cease with the platforms. Bhalla warned that “the app builders (which developed such betting platforms) and media shops (which marketed such platforms) may very well be held liable beneath provisions regarding abetment and prison conspiracy beneath Sections 56 and 62” of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.”
Celebrities within the firing line
Even public figures aren’t off the hook. “The celebrities which endorse or promote such apps on social media may very well be topic to prosecution beneath” the Pointers for Prevention of Deceptive Commercials, 2022. Since on-line betting is banned beneath the Public Playing Act, 1867, any sort of endorsement might additionally violate the Client Safety Act, 2019.
To scale back these dangers, Bhalla recommends that corporations and influencers perform authorized checks and signal contracts that embrace warranties and indemnity clauses, “to cater to conditions the place the tech corporations or the endorsers undergo any monetary legal responsibility owing to the unlawful operations of the web higher platform.”
The investigation is a component of a bigger crackdown by the federal government company, which picked up steam after proof surfaced exhibiting that foreign-linked betting operations have been utilizing Indian platforms to hold out unlawful transactions.
The Ministry of Data and Broadcasting had beforehand issued advisories warning digital platforms to not run advertisements associated to betting, however experiences recommend these warnings have been extensively ignored, resulting in deeper scrutiny.
To all who wish to know what occurred with the ED summons at this time. Thanks
https://t.co/VGJGK9avkU
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) July 30, 2025
As a part of the continuing probe, the ED has now summoned a number of actors in reference to the case. Rana Daggubati was requested to look on the company’s zonal workplace in Hyderabad on July 23, whereas Prakash Raj was summoned for July 30. Vijay Deverakonda is predicted to look on August 6, and Lakshmi Manchu on August 13.
Talking after being summoned, Raj stated: “The officers summoned me as a citizen of the nation in reference to a cash laundering case linked to betting apps. It was one thing I used to be supplied again in 2016.
“On ethical grounds, I selected to not pursue it. I knowledgeable them that I had not obtained any cash, as I had declined the supply.”
The celebrities are being investigated over their alleged promotion of unlawful betting apps on social media platforms.
ReadWrite has reached out to Google and Meta for remark.
Featured picture: Canva / Google / Meta
The put up Google and Meta may lose legal shield amid Indian betting probe appeared first on ReadWrite.
