New Delhi, Jul 19: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued formal notices to tech giants Google and Meta in connection with alleged promotion of online betting applications on their platforms.

These American companies have been asked to respond to the charges by July 21, when representatives will face official questioning.

According to ED officials, numerous online betting apps have gained prominence through advertisements and promotions hosted on platforms owned by Google and Meta. The agency argues that such visibility enabled the apps to reach millions of users, some of whom may have fallen victim to scams.

This action is part of a nationwide crackdown on illegal online betting networks. Recently, ED also booked 29 prominent film actors from Telangana including Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati and Prakash Raj for alleged associations with promotional campaigns related to betting apps. Multiple raids have been carried out across cities including Mumbai, exposing large amounts of unaccounted money.

The ED believes these online platforms may have played a significant role in facilitating the circulation of black money through targeted digital promotions. As a result, both Google and Meta now face intense scrutiny over their advertising policies and vetting mechanisms.

Moving forward, the ED plans to record statements from platform representatives and identify complainants who claim to have been duped via betting applications promoted on social media.

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