A couple of weeks ago, UC Browser claimed to have received
around 500 million downloads on Google's Play Store. But, now, surprisingly,
the app is no longer available on the Play Store. It has seemingly vanished
overnight from the Play store -- and, no one knows the reason why. So, if
you're looking to download it now, well, you may not see the application on the
Google Play Store for now. However, it should be noted that the UC browser mini
app - which is a stripped down version of the UC Browser -- is still available.
UC Browser has allegedly been removed from Play store
overnight -- and the company hasn't revealed the reason why. However, it is not
unknown that Alibaba's UC Browser has been in the limelight for quite some time
-- and it's all because of wrong reasons. UC Browser has been under scrutiny
regarding data security concerns. But, whether or not, its alleged role in
sending users' data to servers in China - and doing it even post someone has
deleted the app from their phones - has something to do with it, is yet to be
seen.
But, here is what we do know. Alibaba -- the company that
owns UC Browser has not released any official statement on the sudden removal
of the application. But, one Mike Ross -- who apparently works with UC Browser
- has taken to twitter to reveal why UC Browser can't be found on the Play
Store anymore. "I work for UC Browser, I got mail today morning it said
that UC Browser was temporarily removed from play store for 30 days because it
used "Misleading" and "Unhealthy" methods of promotion to
increase installs," he said.
At the same time, an Android Central report cites UC Union,
which is UC Web's affiliate network, as saying "that they are looking
forward to cooperating and developing with their users in order to maintain a
healthy UC Union ecosphere in the future." "We hereby emphasis again
that UC Union prohibits any and all misleading/malicious advertising method(s)
to procure new users when promoting UC Browser campaigns, such as by using
slogan inconsistent with the Product functions, or by using inductive
slogan."
All said, there's still no official statement from UC Web or
Google regarding the delisting.
Reports went viral back in August that UC Browser was trying
to steal sensitive user data -- which it then sends to its servers in China
without user's consent. Reports also claimed that UC Browser collects data even
after a user uninstalls the app or even cleans the browsing data. This
concerned the Indian government, considering the tension between India and
China over the Dokhlam issue. Later, the Indian government officials expressed
concerns and said to ban the app in the country if found guilty. And, most
probably, that's what the government has done by de-listing the application
from Google play store.
