China accuses Coca-Cola of misusing GPS equipment

BEIJING  — Chinese authorities say they are investigating whether Coca-Cola Co. employees improperly used location-finding technology in violation of the country’s restrictions on map-making.

Coca-Cola said Thursday it was cooperating with investigators. It said some of its bottling plants use mapping and location technology that is widely available commercially in China to improve the efficiency of deliveries.

Authorities in the southwestern province of Yunnan said Coca-Cola employees were found last month improperly using handheld global positioning system devices. It said that was one of 21 similar cases.

China’s government tightly controls map-making activities due to both national security concerns and political sensitivities about its borders.