(Bloomberg) — Alphabet Inc.’s Google is under investigation by Germany’s antitrust watchdog amid concerns over potentially illegal terms for the use of its maps platform.
The Federal Cartel Office said Tuesday it opened a formal probe after initial findings suggest that the US giant is limiting options to use alternative map providers when app developers and other businesses seek to combine their offerings with maps. The regulator is also looking at the terms for Google’s Automotive Services, according to the statement.
Officials are concerned Google limits the option to embed position data from Google Maps, Street View or the search function on maps of other providers, Andreas Mundt, the agency’s president said.
“We will check whether Google could extent its predominance in certain map services via this practice,” Mundt said.
The probe is the third the German regulator has opened using newly extended powers pursue Big Tech, including Google. Officials are already taking a close look at the company’s News Showcase service and its use of data.
Google said in a statement that it’s cooperating with the authorities and would answer any questions they may have. It said many customers choose to use rival map services for various reasons.
The Cartel Office will now interview Google customers and competitors.
(Updates with Google statement in fourth paragraph.)
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