India orders removal of Google Firebase accounts after spotting scam pattern

India’s cybercrime authorities have ordered Google to remove hundreds of Firebase-hosted accounts and sites used by scammers to impersonate banks and steal financial data from Android users. The notices say at least 57 Firebase websites/databases were targeted in August alone, with scams mimicking major lenders such as SBI, ICICI and Axis Bank, and in some cases using fake credit-card and government-benefit offers to lure victims. The story is negative for Google’s trust and safety narrative, but it does not indicate direct financial damage to the company. It highlights growing regulatory scrutiny around cloud tools and the scale of cyber fraud in India, where alleged losses reached nearly $2.4 billion in 2025. Google says it bans phishing and malware and is cooperating with law enforcement. Market impact on GOOG is likely limited and sentiment is modestly bearish due to reputational and compliance risk.