Who Polices The Platforms? Regulating Financial Frauds Through App Marketplaces In India
- IJLLR Journal
- Jun 21
- 1 min read
Arya Gupta, Department of Law, Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur
Aparajita Gupta, Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur
ABSTRACT
In recent years, India has witnessed a surge in financial frauds perpetrated through mobile applications distributed on major app marketplaces like Google Playstore and Apple Appstore. Despite their central role in approving, ranking, and monetizing these apps, platforms routinely disavow liability for user harms, citing their status as neutral intermediaries under Indian law. This article critically examines the regulatory vacuum that enables such platforms to evade responsibility, highlighting the inadequacies of current Indian statutes and drawing on global models such as the European Union’s Digital Services Act. Through case studies and enforcement data, it demonstrates how self-regulation and scattered interventions have failed to protect users from predatory apps. The article argues for a dedicated regulatory authority and a statutory duty of care for app marketplaces, proposing reforms that would impose proactive vetting, real-time oversight and user compensation mechanisms. These measures are essential to safeguard consumer rights and restore trust in India’s digital economy.
Keywords: App marketplaces, Fraudulent apps, Mobile applications, User harm, Platform accountability.
