It’s the go-to navigational app for many people around the world, but now one prankster has managed to fool Google Maps.
YouTuber Simon Weckert has revealed how he created a fake traffic jam on Google Maps, simply by wheeling a trolley of smartphones down an empty street in Berlin.
In his video description, Mr Weckert explained: “99 smartphones are transported in a handcart to generate virtual traffic jam in Google Maps.”
Mr Weckert was able to exploit Google Maps’ strategy of collecting data from lots of users to gauge how busy areas are.
By activating Google Maps on 99 smartphones and carrying them down the street, Mr Weckert tricked Google Maps into thinking there were 99 different users stuck on the same road.
(Image: simonweckert.com)
Google Maps users will know that when a route is fairly traffic free, the road will appear green, while when it’s very busy, the road will appear red.
Mr Weckert added: “Through this activity, it is possible to turn a green street red which has an impact in the physical world by navigating cars on another route to avoid being stuck in traffic. #googlemapshacks.”
His video has now garnered over 1.7 million likes, and 642 comments, with many viewers surprised at how easy it was to trick the app.
(Image: simonweckert.com)
(Image: simonweckert.com)
One viewer commented: “Just goes to show how we are the source of all their information,” while another added: “Can I hire you to walk up and down my street so cars stop cutting through?”
Meanwhile, one viewer joked: “I want to live in a place like this where you could walk through the streets with a wheelbarrow full of phones without getting robbed.”
While you might think that the ease with which Mr Weckert was able to trick the system would be a cause for concern, Google claims the prank will ‘help make maps work better over time.’
A spokesperson said: “Whether via car or cart or camel, we love seeing creative uses of Google Maps as it helps us make maps work better over time.”
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