CEO of Alphabet and Google Sundar Pichai in Warsaw, Poland on March 29, 2022.
Mateusz Wlodarczyk | Nurphoto | Getty Images
The Department of Justice has renewed its deal with Google Maps, including to its already-sprawling antitrust investigation into the corporate, Politico and Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.
The DOJ is homing in on whether or not Google illegally bundles its mapping and search merchandise by making app builders use them collectively, the retailers reported, citing unnamed sources. Politico additionally reported that the DOJ is trying into how Google packages its maps, app retailer and voice assistant for automakers by way of Google Automotive Services.
Reuters reported in March final yr that the Department was trying into Google Maps bundling. But the probe has appeared to select up velocity as Politico and Bloomberg reported the DOJ has been re-interviewing potential witnesses, together with rivals and prospects, in latest weeks.
A lawsuit may come as quickly as this yr, Politico reported, although sources informed the outlet no determination has been made on whether or not to file a case.
DOJ has already filed two antitrust lawsuits in opposition to Google: One in 2020 concentrating on Google’s distribution of its search product, and one final month centered on its internet advertising enterprise.
Google additionally faces a number of lawsuits from coalitions of state attorneys basic, centered on related points because the DOJ circumstances in addition to the Google Play cell app retailer.
In an announcement, a Google spokesperson mentioned builders are “free to use other mapping services in addition to Google Maps Platform – and many do.”
The spokesperson added that Google faces “enormous competition in the connected car space” and automakers who use Google’s Android Automotive OS aren’t required to additionally use its automotive providers.
“We always cooperate with regulators and are glad to answer any questions they may have about our business,” the spokesperson mentioned.
A DOJ spokesperson declined to remark.
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Source: www.cnbc.com”