The Federal Cartel Office is examining the US technology giant Google because of possible restrictions on competition in map services.

A procedure had been initiated, the Bonn authority announced on Tuesday.

The competition watchdogs are using new powers that were granted to them in 2021 to secure competition in the internet economy.

“We are investigating indications that Google is restricting the combination of its map services with third-party map services.

This concerns, for example, the possibility of integrating location data from Google Maps, the search function or Google Street View on non-Google maps," said Cartel Office President Andreas Mundt.

Google could not immediately be reached for comment.