Google Maps Platform Terms of Service

This is the legal contract between Google and any developer or business that uses Google Maps, Street View, or Places APIs to build apps and websites. The most important thing to know is that you are not allowed to store, cache, or copy map data or use it to build any product that competes with Google Maps — violating this can result in immediate termination of your API access. If you're building an app that sends your users' location data to Google's APIs, you need to tell your users about that data sharing and comply with privacy laws.

This document governs developer and enterprise access to the Google Maps Platform APIs and SDKs, establishing a contractual relationship under which customers integrate mapping, geolocation, routing, and places data into their own applications; it is legally grounded in Google's standard platform terms with incorporated service-specific addenda. The most significant obligations include strict prohibitions on caching, storing, or creating derivative map datasets, mandatory attribution requirements, and restrictions on using Maps Platform data in combination with competing mapping services. Notably, the terms prohibit users from using Maps Platform content to build or improve a competing mapping product, a restriction that goes beyond standard API licensing and creates material lock-in; additionally, the agreement permits Google to unilaterally modify pricing and terms with limited notice, shifting commercial risk to developers. The agreement implicates GDPR (Arts. 6, 28, and 46 for data processing and international transfers), CCPA (§1798.100 for California-resident end-user data flowing through applications), and the EU's Standard Contractual Clauses framework for cross-border data flows. Compliance teams should note that the Google Cloud Data Processing Addendum is incorporated by reference and governs how Maps Platform processes personal data of end users, requiring a separate DPA review and data mapping exercise for any application that transmits user location data to Google's APIs.