Tech Titans Entangled: Google and Meta Under ED's Radar
ED investigates Google and Meta's alleged promotion of illegal betting apps linked to financial crimes; summons issued for questioning.
In a bold and unprecedented move, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken the tech giants Google and Meta to task, summoning them for questioning on July 21. These industry leaders reportedly played a role in promoting online betting apps, suspected of being entangled in high-stakes financial crimes.
The Allegations Against Google and Meta
The ED asserts that these platforms offered prominent advertising spots to websites linked with online betting, thereby ballooning their visibility. Such actions are alleged to have contributed significantly to the proliferation of these illicit betting operations, currently facing intense scrutiny for accusations of money laundering and hawala transactions.
The Web of Online Betting Apps
Central to this investigation are numerous online platforms that masquerade as ‘skill-based games’ while actually engaging in illegal gambling activities. These platforms are believed to generate massive illicit funds, discreetly routed through hawala channels, a detail that the ED is keenly examining. The intrigue is palpable as these funds could easily measure in crores of rupees.
Celebrities in the Crossfire
The ED isn’t stopping at tech giants; they’ve cast a wide net that pulls in the glamorous world of celebrity endorsements. In a dramatic turn of events, 29 well-known figures from Telugu states, including prominent film actors and social media influencers, are under fire for endorsing these platforms. Their involvement presses upon violations of the Public Gambling Act, 1867.
The Legal Framework and Investigations
Operating under the stern guidance of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the ED’s probe roots itself in multiple FIRs filed across the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The scope of the investigation also sees actors previously booked—such as Vijay Deverakonda—reverting with clarifications, claiming no involvement in promoting illegal applications.
The Future Awaits
As the questioning date approaches, the outcomes of these summons loom large, promising potential twists and revelations within the intertwined realms of technology, celebrity influence, and financial integrity.
According to The Sentinel - of this Land, for its People, this inquiry into Google’s and Meta’s alleged complicity in these nefarious activities could redefine the boundaries of tech corporates’ responsibilities during such transgressions.
