New Delhi, July 20 (V7N) — India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned senior executives of Google and Meta to its headquarters in New Delhi on July 21 as part of an ongoing investigation into money laundering linked to online betting apps, according to two government sources.
 
The ED is probing whether the tech giants facilitated the promotion and reach of illegal betting platforms by allowing advertisements on their platforms, despite a standing government advisory against such promotions. The 2022 advisory, issued by India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, had warned media and digital platforms not to carry betting-related ads, citing significant financial and social risks for consumers, particularly young people.
 
According to one official involved in the probe, the investigation will examine advertising revenues received by Google and Meta from betting apps and whether the companies violated any provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The official also said that further scrutiny may be applied to their role in promoting other forms of online gambling content.
 
Neither Google nor Meta has publicly commented on the summons. The companies have previously maintained they adhere to local laws and content policies.
 
The matter has drawn national attention, as both firms play a dominant role in India’s digital advertising ecosystem, and any finding of wrongdoing could have far-reaching implications for platform accountability and digital content regulation in India.
 
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