Mitron app returns to Google Play Store, privacy policies updated

India’s alternative of TikTok, Mitron which rose to instant fame, is back on Google Play Store after being removed due to violating privacy policies. Google in its statement had mentioned that if developers at Mitron fix the issues, the app can be resubmitted and will be back again. Few changes have been made in the privacy policy of the app and are reflecting on the page.

Issues such as video upload and others have also been fixed. Before the removal of the app, Mitron had 4.5 stars on Play store but now its rating has dropped to 3.7. The app was downloaded over 5 million times within days before the tech giant took an action against it. Google had also removed some other apps, including Remove China Apps, developed by a Jaipur based developer. 

“A number of recent app removals received particular attention in India and we wanted to clarify our actions. Earlier this week, we removed a video app for a number of technical policy violations. We have an established process of working with developers to help them fix issues and resubmit their apps. We’ve given this developer some guidance and once they’ve addressed the issue the app can go back up on Play,” Google had said in a statement earlier this week. 

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Even though it didn’t mention Mitron app, the tech giant was referring to it. Mitron was developed by an IIT student who goes by the name Shivank Agarwal. 

The app was welcomed by users initially, leading to high number of downloads. However, it came under scrutiny after a Pakistani coding company dismissed claims of Mitron being a made in India app and said the source code of the app was developed by them. The developer alleged that even the code of the original app wasn’t changed.