Google has removed the popular and controversial live video chat app Chamet from the Play Store. The company confirmed the move to TechCrunch, saying the app violates its user-generated content (UGC) policy.
The company did not provide a statement but noted its policy that “Apps whose primary purpose is to display objectionable UGC content will be removed from Google Play.” The app was pulled from the Play Store sometime last month.
Chamet’s service revolves around live video streaming, offering an option for users to connect to the stream host privately in exchange for payment. Report from Economic times Chamet and other apps point out that there are many women who dance to songs or just talk about their lives, which has made them very popular. Aside from video calls, users can also send gifts to streamers through in-app payments.
Chamet tried to stay away from suggestive content by warning its users against streaming content related to “pornography, violence, vulgarity and other relevant events and situations.” However, the app was full of suggestive content and ads.
Last month, YouTuber Caleb Friesen chirp Long thread about Chamet’s unclear ownership practices – starting with corporate practices Exposed bones A site with little information.
Chamet has been at the top of the charts in several Play Store categories as the top-grossing app. There is data to support this. Users in India spent more than $13.4 million on Chamet between January and July, according to data shared with TechCrunch by analytics firm Data.ai. She added that people in India spent $15.4 million on Shamit last year, with total lifetime spending reaching $38 million. The app has garnered over 26 million lifetime downloads in the country.
Company data indicates that while Chamet was the highest-grossing app, other apps in the live video chat category such as Azar, LiveU, and Honeycam Chat generated millions of dollars. Overall, users in India spent more than $46 million last year on this category of apps, more than another high-spending category of dating apps that saw annual spending of $42.2 million.
Google did not specify whether it plans to take similar action regarding other live video chat applications.