The German competition watchdog Bundeskartellamt is investigating whether Google Maps is sidelining competing navigation apps. There are concerns about the embed from maps, the Maps search, Street View and car services.
Google Maps Abuse of Power
The operation of Google Maps makes it difficult for other map apps to compete, that is the statement that the German regulator wants to investigate. Several aspects of the navigation app are now being questioned.
Andreas Mundt, the head of the Bundeskartellamt, leads the investigation into possible abuse of power with Google Maps. “We have information that indicates that Google is making it more difficult for its map services to work with third-party map services. For example, when it comes to embedding location data from Maps, the search function or using Google Street View, but in maps that are not from Google.”
Maps in the car
The competition watchdog also wants to investigate the license conditions of Google Maps in combination with in-car services. Many car manufacturers use Maps for navigation in their cars, but Google’s conditions for that use may be so strict that other parties can hardly compete with the tech giant. Maps also has a prominent place in Android Auto and Android Automotive.
It’s the latest in a series of studies globally targeting tech giants such as Meta, Google and Apple. In May, there was also an investigation into abuse of power around payments in the Play Store in the Netherlands, and Google had to go to court in the United States a year earlier. Four years ago, Google paid the largest fine ever imposed by the EU for abuse of power with Android. A year later, that dubious record was already broken by Meta – then Facebook.
In a response, Google states that app developers and companies can choose from many more different map services than just Maps. Google also indicates that it will cooperate with the German researchers. It is not yet known when the investigation by the Bundeskartellamt will be completed.
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