Google Maps new features to protect against fake content, harmful reviews, “This can include everything from taking down policy-violating content to temporarily disabling new contributions,”
This month, Google Maps has seen a number of significant upgrades, including the addition of Immersive View for routes, new AI functions, and, most recently, a visual makeover that gives the program a new color scheme. Although Maps is typically a trustworthy resource for verifying details about locations of eateries, movie theaters, ATMs, and other businesses, it is not impermeable to fraudulent ratings and deceptive content. Google has revealed three more methods it blocks the submission of content that violates its policies in an effort to strengthen Maps.
Google clarified in a blog post published on Wednesday that it keeps an eye out for odd trends in user-contributed content, like a rise in one-star reviews for businesses, and takes appropriate measures to stop abuse. The site stated that “This can include everything from taking down policy-violating content to temporarily disabling new contributions,” The firm also examines reviews that break company policy and looks into the accounts that posted them.
Second, Google takes precautions to safeguard locations and businesses before delicate events, like elections, when it expects an increase in irrelevant and harmful content on Maps. Google claims that in order to prevent false content, it restricts contributors’ ability to change phone numbers, addresses, and other details.
“A set of frameworks helps us evaluate how helpful user input might be for these types of places, and based on the outcome we may apply restrictions ranging from limiting contributions to blocking a specific type of content to blocking contributed content altogether,” Google said.
