Google Maps · Google Maps Platform Terms of Service · View original document ↗

Restriction on Combining Maps Data with Competing Services

High severity Medium confidence Explicitdocumentlanguage Unique · 0 of 343 platforms
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Recent governance activity Google Maps recorded 2 documented changes in the last 30 days.
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Document Record

What it is

You cannot use Google Maps API data to build a product that competes with Google Maps or to enhance a competitor's mapping product.

This analysis describes what Google Maps's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

This restriction limits the competitive use of Google Maps data and prevents developers from combining Maps API outputs with services from competing mapping providers.

Interpretive note: Enforceability of competitor combination restrictions may vary by jurisdiction and could be subject to antitrust challenge in some markets.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

Medium Jun 24, 2026

The updated terms establish a broader definition of activities that are subject to heightened restrictions under the Google Maps Platform Terms of Service. Previously, the definition enumerated specific high-risk categories. The revised language now encompasses any use case where service failure could reasonably be expected to result in death, serious personal injury, or severe environmental or property damage, and explicitly identifies weaponry as a restricted application. Developers and organizations using Google Maps for restricted purposes should review their use cases against the new definition to ensure continued compliance.

View change record →

Clause Stability Stable

0
Changes
3
Months Monitored
May 10, 2026
First Seen
May 20, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 646 other provisions on other platforms.

Change history

modified May 15, 2026

Provision name and language refocused to explicitly prohibit 'standalone navigation product or service' and connection with competitors' products, narrowing from broad dataset/list creation restrictions to direct competitive product use.

View full change record →

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

This clause limits what developers can build with Maps data, which can restrict the availability of certain competing or hybrid mapping applications in the market.

How other platforms handle this

Minecraft Medium

Do not use our name or logo in ways that could imply an official partnership or endorsement without our permission. This includes not naming your project in a way that could make people think it is an official Minecraft product.

DoorDash Medium

(g) You will not use or attempt to use the Services or content accessible through the Services without DoorDash's prior written consent in connection with the development of any software program, including, but not limited to, training a machine learning or artificial intelligence (AI) system or pro...

AWS Bedrock Medium

You may not use the Services to develop foundation models or other large scale models that compete with Amazon Bedrock or any other AWS Service.

See all platforms with this clause type →

Monitoring

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
You will not use the Maps APIs in a Maps API Implementation that is a standalone navigation product or service, or use the Maps APIs in connection with, or to enhance, any of Google's competitors' products or services.

— Excerpt from Google Maps's Google Maps Platform Terms of Service

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages competition law and antitrust frameworks, including EU competition law under TFEU Article 101/102 and US antitrust law under the Sherman Act. Antitrust regulators including the European Commission and the DOJ Antitrust Division have examined Google's practices in related markets. The provision's restriction on combining Maps data with competitor services may warrant evaluation under applicable competition law, particularly for dominant market participants. (2) GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: High for companies operating in markets where antitrust regulators are actively examining platform dominance. This clause may be unenforceable in certain jurisdictions if it is found to constitute an anticompetitive tying or exclusivity arrangement. (3) JURISDICTION FLAGS: EU/EEA developers should evaluate this clause under EU competition law. The European Commission has previously examined Google's mapping-related practices. In the US, this provision could face antitrust scrutiny in certain contexts. (4) CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Legal teams building hybrid mapping solutions or evaluating multi-vendor mapping strategies should obtain competition law advice before relying on this clause as a final constraint. The enforceability of this provision may vary by jurisdiction. (5) COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Companies building multi-platform or vendor-agnostic mapping solutions should document their use case and obtain legal review of whether their architecture is compliant with this restriction.

Full compliance analysis

Regulatory citations, enforcement risk, and due diligence action items.

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has jurisdiction over anticompetitive trade practices; this restriction on combining Maps data with competitor services may warrant evaluation under FTC competition enforcement authority.
    File a complaint →

Applicable regulations

DMA
European Union
DSA
European Union

Provision details

Document information
Document
Google Maps Platform Terms of Service
Entity
Google Maps
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 10, 2026
Last verified
May 10, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-008818
Document ID
CA-D-00324
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
be113b6e68b6e70025d595d2449d39dea9fb2e34a7c527a908cfcd8561e412ac
Analysis generated
May 10, 2026 11:22 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Google Maps
Document: Google Maps Platform Terms of Service
Record ID: CA-P-008818
Captured: 2026-05-10 11:22:37 UTC
SHA-256: be113b6e68b6e700…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/google-maps/google-maps-platform-terms-of-service/restriction-on-combining-maps-data-with-competing-services/
Accessed: July 4, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Google Maps's Restriction on Combining Maps Data with Competing Services clause do?

This restriction limits the competitive use of Google Maps data and prevents developers from combining Maps API outputs with services from competing mapping providers.

How does this clause affect you?

This clause limits what developers can build with Maps data, which can restrict the availability of certain competing or hybrid mapping applications in the market.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Google Maps?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Google Maps.