As a result of hijacking suspicions, Google decided to block the publication of new information on the Russian and Ukrainian maps of its cartographic service.
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In times of war, information is a sensitive issue. Google has decided to freeze its Google Maps mapping service by preventing users from publishing new information in its Ukrainian and Russian cards. In a release released Wednesday, March 2, the US company also announced having erased recent publications: all new places, comments, as well as photos and videos submitted since the beginning of the invasion.
This decision follows suspicions of misappropriation of Google Maps by Prorusses and Pro-Ukrainian supporters. Tuesday on Twitter, several accounts have been claimed that the Russian army had bombarded Several locations possibly added to Google Maps by Russian agents, appeared on the map around February 28th. Although Google has expressed doubts about these reports from the US site BuzzFeed , the company has decided to remove all new publications as a precautionary measure.
Troop position
At the same time, the Russian map of Google Maps has this time is the subject of a more clearly evidenced diversion. The cards of many shops and institutions have been flourishing comments that have no connection with the services they offered: “Putin you lies, there are many dead on both sides”, could we read in the opinions on a Fast Food Moscovite, for example. In the sheet of a swimming pool located in Sochi, there were pictures of bombed buildings. According to our findings, this information has disappeared as a result of Google’s measures.
The idea of communicating through the google maps cards had been broadcast by a Twitter account claiming the Anonymous movement, calling for writing comments on Google Maps to “explain what is happening in Ukraine” and so “Put the information to the Russian civil society to which Putin ment”.
Google’s cartographic service has been instrumentalized as part of the war in Ukraine. From the first hours of the conflict, Google Maps has thus allowed the location of certain troops, which one could suspect the presence by seeing appear from Routes blocked on local maps . Reason for which, Sunday, February 27, the US company decided to disable the display of traffic on these cards, in accordance with the local authorities.
In general, the Russian invasion in Ukraine demonstrates the importance of cards in times of war. Google Maps, whose Ukrainian map remains consultable although removal of recent information, remains a valuable tool for journalists who seek to check the location of attacks targeted or validating the authenticity of war videos posted on social networks. . The 1 er March, another mapping tool of Ukrainian origin, Liveuamap, suffered a cyberattaker blocking its operation for eighteen hours . This service, used in particular by journalists and non-governmental organizations, allows to follow the evolution of the conflict on Ukrainian territory.