Google Maps · Google Maps Platform Terms of Service

Prohibition on Caching or Storing Map Data

Medium severity
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What it is

You generally cannot save, copy, or store Google Maps data for later use — you must retrieve it live from Google's servers each time, with only very limited temporary caching allowed.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

End users of apps built on Maps Platform may experience degraded offline functionality because developers are prohibited from storing map data locally, and apps must continuously call Google's servers, which also means continued data transmission about user queries.

Cross-platform context

See how other platforms handle Prohibition on Caching or Storing Map Data and similar clauses.

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Why it matters (compliance & risk perspective)

This restriction prevents developers from building offline-capable applications, reducing data costs, or creating independent data stores — it ensures continued dependency on Google's infrastructure and live API calls.

View original clause language
You must not pre-fetch, cache, index, or store any Content, except that you may store: (i) limited amounts of Content for the purpose of improving the performance of your Maps API Implementation, but only for a temporary period as specified in the Maps APIs Documentation; and (ii) any content that Google explicitly permits you to store in the Maps APIs Documentation.

Institutional analysis (Compliance & legal intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: Caching restrictions do not directly implicate a specific privacy regulation, but they create compliance implications under GDPR Art. 25 (data minimization and privacy by design) because mandatory live API calls transmit user location queries to Google each time rather than allowing local processing. The restriction also has implications for CCPA §1798.100 if location queries constitute personal information. (2)

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has jurisdiction over data collection practices that may be undisclosed to consumers, including live location query transmission mandated by caching restrictions.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Google Maps Platform Terms of Service
Entity
Google Maps
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
April 28, 2026
Last verified
April 28, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-004001
Document ID
CA-D-00324
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
d7d43c97b706df81bcb608a886eba9988cb50b384442642f9c928a5aa47175e4
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Google Maps | Document: Google Maps Platform Terms of Service | Record: CA-P-004001
Captured: 2026-04-28 10:05:02 UTC | SHA-256: d7d43c97b706df81…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/google-maps/google-maps-platform-terms-of-service/prohibition-on-caching-or-storing-map-data/
Accessed: April 29, 2026
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

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