Missouri's attorney general on Monday launched an investigation into Google Inc., questioning whether the search engine company's data-collection and privacy practices violate state consumer protection laws.

Josh Hawley, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, issued an eight-page civil investigative demand to the Mountain View-based company seeking records about privacy policies, data-sharing practices with third parties, database protection efforts and more.

“There is strong reason to believe that Google has not been acting with the best interest of Missourians in mind,” Hawley said in a statement. “My office will not stand by and let private consumer information be jeopardized by industry giants, especially to pad their profits.”

Google did not respond to a request for comment. Google spokesman Patrick Lenihan told The Kansas City Star that the company has “strong privacy protections in place for our users and continue[s] to operate in a highly competitive and dynamic environment.” Google has not yet received the subpoena, Lenihan said.

Hawley's demand for records comes as federal agencies scrutinize Google and other tech companies over their roles in Russia's attempts to influence the 2016 election and over their roles as virtual platforms for online sex trafficking. In June, the European Union fined Google $2.7 billion for violating antitrust law by manipulating search results to favor its own Google Shopping site. Google has appealed.

Consumer groups have complained to federal regulators that Google changed its privacy policies to allow it to collect more information about users across its affiliated apps and sites. “When a company has access to as much consumer information as Google does, it's my duty to ensure they are using it appropriately,” Hawley said.

Google's practices have also been targeted by states. In 2013, the company reached a $17 million settlement with 37 states and the District of Columbia over claims it circumvented Apple Safari's setting to install third-party cookies.

Hawley said his office will also investigate allegations that Google misappropriated content from its competitors. Online reviews portal Yelp in September complained that Google was scraping photographs and other data from its site and others' in violation of a 2012 agreement with the Federal Trade Commission.

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood also served Google with an investigatory subpoena in 2014 for information about online pharmaceutical sales, human trafficking and copyright infringement. After two years of litigation—Google alleged that Hood's actions were politically motivated—Hood withdrew his subpoena and Google dropped its lawsuit.

The Missouri attorney general's civil investigative demand is posted below.

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