Representatives from Google have appeared before Enforcement Directorate (ED) of India for questioning related to a significant money laundering investigation.
The probe centers on the promotion of illegal online betting and gambling platforms through major digital advertisements.
The case is being pursued by the Enforcement Department of India under the Prevention of Money laundering Act.
The agency is examining how unauthorized and illegal betting apps were able to advertise on large digital platforms like Google, potentially deceiving Indian consumers and enabling large-scale financial crimes. Officials suspect these schemes may have led to significant tax evasion and money laundering activities.
The ED had initially summoned officials from both Google and Meta to appear for questioning. While Google’s representatives complied and attended the hearing, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, did not send anyone to appear before the agency.
As part of its cooperation, Google is expected to provide the ED with detailed documentation regarding its advertising policies and enforcement actions.
In a recent statement, Google reiterated its commitment to platform safety, saying:
We are extending our full support and cooperation to investigating agencies to hold bad actors responsible and keep users safe.
The company noted that its ad policies are enforced by a combination of AI systems and human review, and that in 2023 alone, it removed over 247 million ads and suspended nearly 3 million advertiser accounts in India.
This investigation comes as Indian authorities increase their scrutiny of high-profile links to illegal betting, with actors, influencers, and athletes also reportedly under investigation. Meta has not yet made a public comment on its failure to appear at the hearing.
