Messaging app ToTok removed from Google Play Store for second time

ToTok is a messaging app that has been developed by Giacomo Ziani and was launched in 2019. However, search engine giant Google has removed the chat app from the Google Play Store for the second time. It has been allegedly used as a spying tool by the United Arab Emirates. This is not the first time, but the application has earlier been removed from the Apple’s App Store and the Play Store of Google in December, 2020. However, the search engine had silently reinstated the application in January, 2020. But it Apple was not so generous enough as Google to reinstate it and remained unavailable on the App Store.

The application was taken down on again on February 14, 2020. The search engine also confirmed about the news to a leading daily that it has taken down the app but did not talk about any reason as to why it took it down. The first time, Google took it down for violating some unspecified policies. The UAE based application allows the users to send fast, free and secure messages and also allows the users to make calls. The application is used by millions in the United Arab Emirates and other places in the Middle East.

Surprisingly, just before it was removed from the Play Store and the App Store in December 2019, the app had become one of the most downloaded social applications in the US. It was found with the help of the NYT’s investigation that the app had allowed the government of the UAE government to spy on the users.

But ToTok denied the reports and had published a statement in December that they respect the privacy and also ensure security of its users. The authorities in the statement also clarified that their users also have a complete control over what data they want to share and what they do not wish to share.

Photo Credits: 3nions