Google redraws the borders on maps depending on who’s looking

Re:Google redraws the borders on maps depending on who’s loo... by ajaimk on Saturday February 15, 2020 @03:43PM (#22337837)

While I do work for Google, this is just standard practice for any map maker since they are required to follow local laws. I find this article to be incendiary singling out a single company and acting as if they are doing this with bad intent which is not the case here.

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Re:Google redraws the borders on maps depending on who’s loo... by maxerickson on Saturday February 15, 2020 @04:03PM (#22337944)

I think most map makers probably aren't doing business in the countries in question and can just do whatever they feel like.

(The average cartographer isn't working on maps intended for consumption everywhere...)

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Re:Google redraws the borders on maps depending on who’s loo... by Carpetsmoker on Saturday February 15, 2020 @04:08PM (#22337989)

I don't know if this is accurate, but the article implies that printed maps don't do this kind stuff, or at least less so (e.g. "We try to show as much information as we can, when we can, to help people understand what's going on in a part of the world").

I don't know how Google maps compares to other online maps.

> as if they are doing this with bad intent

I didn't really read any implications of "bad intent" here, but rather indifference or callousness regarding these issues.

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Re:Google redraws the borders on maps depending on who’s loo... by kroltan on Saturday February 15, 2020 @08:59PM (#22339363)

Printed maps are printed _somewhere_, and have to follow that where's laws. Naturally, a (for example) US-printed map can draw foreign disputed borders as disputed or either side's.

Now, if that same map was to be distributed in one of the disputing countries, that's another story, and even representing disputedness can be illegal.

Since Google wants to distribute their maps globally, they can either show the "correct" maps, or block access from people in countries with disputed borders. Their business model being what it is, they chose to redraw maps when necessary.

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Re:Google redraws the borders on maps depending on who’s loo... by ithkuil on Sunday February 16, 2020 @08:56AM (#22341543)

I've seen printed maps of Greece which had an actual label with the word "FYROM" layered on top of the neighboring country if Macedonia. The map was obviously printed outside of Greece

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Re:Google redraws the borders on maps depending on who’s loo... by wyxuan on Saturday February 15, 2020 @07:30PM (#22339025)

If printed maps could be changed based on a viewers location, that would definitely be done. However, it can't be done, and authorities recognize that

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Re:Google redraws the borders on maps depending on who’s loo... by detaro on Saturday February 15, 2020 @07:54PM (#22339123)

In many cases where the online maps are required to change the view, you won't be able to offer a paper map that disagrees with the official perspective.

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