Germany: Bundeskartellamt launches antitrust investigation into Google's status as a company of paramount significance

On 25 May 2021, the Bundeskartellamt has launched an investigation into Google to determine its status as a company of paramount significance. The proceedings were enabled after Germany implemented new rules for large digital companies in the German Competition Act (GWB). Specifically, Section 19a enables the Bundeskartellamt to open investigations against companies "of paramount significance for competition across markets" more quickly and restrain companies from implementing anti-competitive behaviour. If found to be a company of paramount significance, the Bundeskartellamt will be able to take regulatory action against Google more easily under a two-step procedure established under the new rules.