ISLAMABAD: Google has removed 14 apps, involved in stealing personal data, from its app store at the request of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).
Nadra has discussed the matter with Scott Beaumont, Google’s president for Asia Pacific, Hiang Choong, the region’s top lawyer, and Stephanie Davis, vice president for customer solutions.
Pakistani officials called the issue urgent as it involved the personal data of its nationals which is being illegally sold by various applications hosted on the Google Play Store.
It said the apps were “illegally and deceptively” using Nadra’s name and products to impersonate and deceive users with the impression that the apps were in some manner either officially linked with, authorized or operated by Nadra, and hence “obtain unwarranted credibility for their apps and services”.
Nadra notified Google that “certain apps are impersonating Nadra or implying they are authorized to provide Nadra products and services to their users” and obtained personal information from the Pakistani residents, noting that Google’s policy on impersonation did not permit users to impersonate someone else.
