Bijoya Roy, Google’s top legal figure in India, has stepped down from her position after 16 months, marking a significant departure in a critical market where the tech giant faces regulatory obstacles. Roy’s resignation comes at a time when Google is navigating antitrust issues, legal disputes related to AI, and stricter content removal rules in India.
India holds strategic importance for Google, with the majority of smartphones in the country operating on its Android platform. Despite Apple’s growing presence, Google’s dominance in the Indian smartphone market remains substantial.
Roy’s departure, reportedly for personal reasons to pursue her own venture, follows a series of exits within Google’s leadership in India, including the previous head of public policy. The absence of a government relations head further complicates Google’s position in managing regulatory affairs.
In response to questions, Google did not offer a comment on Roy’s resignation, maintaining a reserved stance on the matter. Notably, the company had announced plans last year to invest $15 billion in establishing an artificial intelligence data center in India.
Source: Tech-Economic Times