Due to restrictions, Germany launched an antitrust investigation on Google Maps

21st Century Business Herald reporter Zhang Yating Intern Gao Yi Guangzhou report

Recently, the German antitrust regulatory agency Carter (German Federal Anti -Monopoly Agency) filed a lawsuit against German Google and its parent company Alphabet, which aims to review anti -competition behavior of Google map platforms that may impose other map service providers.

In recent years, many countries and regions have accelerated the process of antitrust legislation and revision of the law, and have conducted more severe and comprehensive crackdown on monopoly behaviors such as market dominance and illegal implementation operators. Google's abuse market dominance is regulated by anti -monopoly institutions by many countries through investigations, lawsuits, and punishment.

Google was complained for anti -competition

It is understood that Google Maps provides access to multiple map services, including embedded the map into a third -party website, such as displaying the location of a shop or hotel. A preliminary assessment of the German Federal Anti -Monopoly Bureau shows that Google limits the possibility of combining its map services with third -party maps. In addition, in the Google Vehicle Information Entertainment System, it is necessary to comply with strict clauses applicable to its "Google car service" when using services, which may limit market competition.

Andreas Mundt, chairman of the German Federal Anti -Monopoly Bureau, said: "We are investigating whether Google restricts its services with third -party map services, will it allow Google to further expand its market power. We will also investigate the license clauses and conditions of the vehicle using Google Map services. "

The lawsuit refers to the new rights obtained based on the German Federal Anti -Monopoly Agency. This is the provisions of Article 19A, the "German Anti -Restricted Restricted Competition Law" adopted by the German Federal Parliament in January 2021. Companies with significant cross -market competition are engaged in anti -competitive behavior.

The tenth revision of the "German Opposition Restrictions Restriction Law" responded to the economic monopoly issue of the platform, reflecting the important trend of European digital competition policies. The revised innovation is reflected in the introduction of the introduction of the concept of "intermediary forces", attaching great importance to data issues, strengthening the supervision of platform rules, expanding the scope of market forces, reforming and acquisition review systems, and expanding pre -supervision power.

Regarding the impact of the platform cross -market, Article 19 of the new amendment shall not be "in a market that does not dominate itself, using rapid expansion capabilities directly or indirectly to hinder other competitors." At the same time The enterprise has not been authorized by users to consolidate the data cross -platform; for the abuse of market dominance, the newly increased "preferential treatment of platform enterprises to the self -operated business relative to other operators".

Google was reviewed and punished by global antitrust censorship

The German Federal Anti -Monopoly Agency's review of Google is not the first time that the two sides have confronted. After the tenth revision of the "German Opposition Restrictions Restriction Law" takes effect, parallel review procedures for data processing, news display, and market status on Google are also underway.

In May 2021, the German Federal Anti -Monopoly Bureau conducted an in -depth analysis of Google's data processing clauses. Google's business model depends to a large extent to process user -related data. Due to the access of these data, Google has a market strategic advantage. A key question is whether consumers who want to use Google services have enough choices to determine how Google will use their data. The German Federal Anti -Monopoly Bureau reviews whether Google only agrees with data processing as a condition for users to use its services, rather than letting users decide how to deal with and what goals are processed.

In June of the same year, the German Federal Anti -Monopoly Bureau reviewed the Google News display. According to Corint Media's complaint, the German Federal Anti -Monopoly Anti -Monopoly Integrity will integrated Google News display services into Google's general search function, and it may constitute a competition for self -preferences or hindering third parties to provide services. At the same time, its strong market position and massive users may cause services provided by publishers or other news providers to be squeezed out of the market.

In January 2022, the German Federal Anti -Monopoly Agency released news that it had made a decision to determine that Google had a significant cross -market competitive influence, which showed that it would be strictly supervised by the German Federal Anti -Monopoly Bureau.

First of all, in Google's digital ecosystem, Google visited other companies to visit its users and advertising customers (such as Google Search, YouTube, Android, Play Store or its advertising services), and can formulate rules for other companies. These services can be described as "infrastructure". Secondly, due to the extensive service scope, Google can also access data related to competition. Based on Google's huge user base, advertising services, cross -service and cross -device collection, a large amount of user data, Google's competitive advantage on data and other resources (such as the "Google" brand), enables the operation, improvement and expansion of existing services Or developing new services is easier. Finally, Google's competitive influence is reflected in its market value, and it is one of the highest market value companies in the world.

As a giant Internet platform, Google has repeatedly conducted antitrust investigations and punishments by countries in recent years.

According to incomplete sorting out, in May 2021, it was fined 102 million euros by Italy for the leading position of the Android operating system and its application store. In June, it was fined 220 million euros by France due to the dominance of abuse in the online advertising market; whether the control of the mobile ecosystem was investigated by the British investigation by the control of the mobile ecosystem, whether the digital advertising pricing was in compliance; Third parties obtained user data and left for their own problems to be investigated by the European Union. In July, it was filed by 37 states in the United States for anti -competitive behavior of the application store; September was fined US $ 177 million in South Korea for abuse of the contract clause with equipment manufacturers; And being investigated by the European Union. In May 2022, the United States Senate's two -party joint group proposed a new bill, which directly pointed out digital advertising, Google, which is a digital advertising giant, or faces the online advertising business. In the same month, the British antitrust regulatory agency "Competition and Market Administration" (CMA) launched a second antitrust survey on Google's advertising business, saying that Google may distort competition and illegally favors its own services. In June, CMA stated that it plans to investigate Google's leading position in the mobile browser market, and take law enforcement operations on the payment policy of Google App Store.

- END -