Google Temporarily Deactivates the Editing Option on Maps of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus

Sophie Webster, Tech Times 02 March 2022, 12:03 pm

Google announced that users would no longer be able to edit Maps in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. The search giant also stated that it would delete all places and contributions submitted by users from Feb. 23, including videos, photos, and business information in those three countries.

Google Maps Blocks Editing Option

Google said that it came to a decision out of an abundance of caution after people across social media networks that the Russian military has been relying on Google Maps pins created by users to coordinate airstrikes on Ukraine.

According to Engadget, there are posts on social media sites like Twitter with screenshots of Google Maps showing pins labeled "ФЕРМЕРСЬКЕ ГОСПОДАРСТВО" which means "farm" in Ukrainian.

People were reportedly claiming that tags created by users saying "agriculture" or "farm" created on Feb. 28 matched the locations of the missile strikes on cities in Ukraine, including Kharkiv and Kyiv.

Also Read: SpaceX's Starlink Internet Banned in Russia, Citizens May Face Fines

However, Google also stated that some of the users' edited versions marking certain locations in Ukraine as "farms" were made in 2021. Even so, it's disabling user contributions to Google Maps since the Russian invasion had started, according to Observer.

A Google spokesperson said that out of an abundance of caution, they are removing user contributions like videos, photos, reviews, and business information and all user-submitted places from Google Maps in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus since the invasion started, and are temporarily blocking new edits from being created.

Last week, the search giant also removed live traffic data on Google Maps in Ukraine to protect the locations of fleeing locals.

The company blocked the YouTube channels of Russian state-owned media outlets RT and Sputnik across Europe, following the European Commission's announcement that it would ban what "Kremlin's media machine" in the EU.

Other tech giants had also responded to calls to limit their services in Russia and to block the country's media outlet. Facebook removed fake accounts spreading Russian disinformation and restricted Sputnik's and RT's access to its site.

Apple stopped all product sales in Russia and disabled all traffic data in Ukraine after the country's Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov sent a request.

Credit Card Giants Blocks Russia

Aside from tech giants, credit card giants have decided to halt their services in Russia. Visa and Mastercard have blocked Russian financial institutions from their networks in response to sanctions targeting Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.

Last week, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine, forcing the United States and governments around the world to impose a series of sanctions aimed at cutting off Russia from the global financial system, according to CNBC.

The United States added several Russian individuals and financial institutions on the Specially Designated Nationals, its name for its sanctions list. It blocks companies from the United States from doing business with any individual or entity on the list.

Mastercard said it had blocked several financial institutions from its payment network without naming companies or individuals.

Visa has also stated that it has blocked those on the sanctions list, saying that it was taking action to make sure that it follows the sanctions. Both Visa and Mastercard also pledged $2 million toward humanitarian relief funds for Ukraine.