The German anti-cartel agency announced on Tuesday that it has started an investigation into Google Maps over potential prohibitions that may be providing it an unfair competitive advantage.
The Federal Cartel Office issued a statement saying, “The proceeding is to examine possible anti-competitive restrictions imposed by Google Maps Platform to the detriment of alternative map services providers.”
According to the watchdog’s president, Andreas Mundt, there is reason to believe that Google “may be restricting the combination of its own map services with third-party map services, for example when it comes to embedding Google Maps location data, the search function or Google Street View into maps not provided by Google”.
The action was taken as a result of the Federal Cartel Office’s classification of Google as a corporation of “paramount significance across markets” in January, which opened the door for the government to crack down on any suspected anti-competitive behavior.
Examining Google’s terms and conditions for data processing and its news service, Google News Showcase, is already happening concurrently.
Last year, a change to the German Competition Act went into effect, enabling the authority to take action sooner, notably against major digital enterprises.
The firm that owns Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, Meta, has also been designated as a company of “paramount significance across markets” by the watchdog.
Globally, big internet corporations are coming under more and more scrutiny due to their dominant positions and tax strategies.
In March, the EU and Britain launched antitrust investigations into a 2018 agreement between Google and Meta that was allegedly meant to further their hegemony over the online advertising industry.
To read our blog on “Google Maps will soon include an immersive view,” click here.
