India’s financial crime-fighting agency has summoned executives from tech giants Google and Meta to its headquarters on Monday. This move is part of an investigation into money laundering accusations related to online betting applications, as confirmed by two government sources.
According to the first source, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is scrutinizing whether these platforms facilitated the promotion and broader reach of betting apps through advertisements. The source added that July 21 has been set as the date for their appearance at the agency’s headquarters in New Delhi, the capital.
A second government source accused Google and Meta of utilizing their platforms to promote illegal activities, despite a government advisory that specifically cautioned against advertising any form of betting. This source further stated that the agency will investigate Google and Meta regarding the funds they received from betting apps, and will also verify if they were advertising or promoting any other betting platforms. Both sources requested anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak with the media.
Google and Meta did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
In a 2022 advisory to television channels and digital media, India’s information and broadcasting ministry highlighted that betting and gambling pose “significant financial and socio-economic risks for consumers, especially youth and children.” The ministry also advised against the promotion of offline or online betting and gambling through advertisements, citing the larger public interest. Domestic news agency ANI was the first to report this news.
