The New York Times recently reported that a popular messaging app called ToTok was actually a spying tool used by the United Arab Emirates government to monitor users’ conversations, location, and connections. The app was removed from the Google Play Store in December 2019, but Google investigated the matter further and reinstated it in early January.
Google has now confirmed that the app has been removed again, but declined to elaborate on why. 9to5Google first reported that ToTok had been removed from the Google Play Store, which Google confirmed to TechCrunch. It also noted that there was no external direction or request to do so. This suggests that the US government had no involvement in the matter, but rather that it was a Google decision. It is believed that the reason for this decision was likely related to a policy violation.
According to the New York Times, the ToTok application had been downloaded by millions of users from the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa and North America, from the Apple and Google app stores, just a few months after its launch.
At the time of the app's removal, Google said the app violated Google Play policies. The app had been installed on more than 10 million devices by then, according to Sensor Tower.
In January 2020, ToTok's website announced that the app was once again available for download. Specifically, the updated version submitted to Google Play included a new dialog box requesting authorization to access and sync users' contact list.
What was particularly surprising was the fact that this updated version of ToTok was not included again on Google Play.
Typically, third-party data providers like App Annie and Sensor Towercan see even very low-ranked apps. For example, App Annie’s charts track apps as poorly ranked at #1750 in any category. But after its comeback, ToTok never made it to the top, even in its home market of the United Arab Emirates.
However, the app was once again available for download. Google confirms that it removed the app on February 14, 2020 from the Play store. Now, the ToTok website shows the app listed on third-party Android app stores, but not on Google Play. It also offers an APK for direct download. Finally, ToTok is still not available on iOS.
