Germany: Announced Bundeskartellamt antitrust investigation into Google for alleged anti-competitive data processing practice

On 25 May 2021, the Bundeskartellamt launched an investigation into Google for potentially implementing anti-competitive data processing terms. 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. The Bundeskartellamt will investigate how Google's data processing terms link to its strategic advantage on the market, with a particular focus on whether consumers are given sufficient choice in how their data are used.