They’ll leave reviews at places they’ve been, and usually add ratings or photos in location-specific clusters. For example, we know that the average person is likely to use Google Maps while navigating a commute or road trip, and while searching for nearby restaurants or services. One of the best tools we have to fight back is an understanding of what normal, authentic Google Maps usage looks like.

Fighting this unhelpful content is a complex, ceaseless battle - one that we rarely detail publicly so as to not tip off scammers to our ever-changing techniques. How we single out the bad actorsīad actors try to mislead people through a variety of techniques, from fake reviews that attack a business to inauthentic ratings that boost a place’s reputation. While much of our work to prevent inappropriate content is done behind the scenes, we wanted to share some detail about our investments and progress in keeping Google Maps reliable and trustworthy. Just as there are bad actors in the real-world, there are those who try to game Google Maps with inappropriate content - the vast majority of which is removed before you see it. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. The same neighbor who lends a hand could also be writing witty reviews of local restaurants. Just as Google Maps is a reflection of the real-world, so are the people that contribute to it.

These contributions allow Google Maps to keep up with the world constantly changing around us and also help people make more informed decisions.

Since we started accepting contributed content in 2010, more than 970 million people have updated Google Maps in the form of reviews, photos, ratings and factual information like addresses and business hours. One way Maps is kept accurate and reliable is through updates that everyday people add. We search for businesses, seek directions, check photos and read reviews. For many of us, Google Maps is the place we go for information about the world around us.

My reviews on google maps