IAMAI is an association representing certain tech companies. Its members include multinational giants Google, Meta and Microsoft, as well as Indian tech firms such as Paytm, Ola, PhonePe, Unacademy and Byju’s.
ET reported last week that Indian startups planned to oppose the draft comments, saying they favour big tech platforms over Indian internet companies.
On Monday, Rohan Verma, CEO and executive director of MapmyIndia, said that IAMAI was “parroting & promoting views that are anti-Indian and pro-foreign big tech”.
“I hope everyone realises that the Chair & Vice Chair of IAMAI are from the Foreign Big Tech. Sad to see an org originally founded by and for Indian companies, taken over & now promoting a false narrative. IAMAI views & submissions to govt & media on digital policies, regulations, laws etc are completely wrong and antithetical to what Indians — consumers, industry, government — need,” he tweeted.
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Verma pointed out that IAMAI’s executive council was currently led by Sanjay Gupta, country head & vice president, Google, as chairman, with Shivnath Thukral, public policy director, India, WhatsApp Inc, serving as vice-chairman. He added that either IAMAI should change to “truly reflect the voice and aspirations of India” or the body should be given no “credence”.
“Sad to see various Indian trade bodies lured by & acting on behalf of the interest of Foreign companies. Foreign companies are certainly welcomed in India, and appreciated — but know that it is your privilege to have access to the Indian market, and that you definitely don’t have a right to plunder India,” he added.
Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com parent People Group, also tweeted on the issue saying: “It (IAMAI) appears to have become a mouthpiece of big tech”.
In its draft note on digital competition, the IAMAI has flagged recommendations by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance on designating systemically important digital intermediaries (SIDIs), or a small number of players that can negatively influence competitive conduct in the digital ecosystem. The body said the recommendations lack clarity, make underlying assumptions, and that there was an “absence of an evidence-based approach”.
This comes at a time when Indian startups have been accusing big Internet firms, especially Google, of anti-competitive practices. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is hearing a petition against Google’s in-app purchase policy, filed by an alliance of Indian startups.
The Madras High Court is also hearing a similar case filed by matchmaking platform operator Matrimony.com.