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Google Map Maker reopening in August with some changes
July 28, 2025
After the“Android mascot peeing on an Apple logo” incidentback in April, Google responded by temporarily shutting down Map Maker. The tool was intended to allow user-generated map edits in order to make Google Maps better, but the practical joke required Google to re-evaluate the tool and the approval process used for edits.
The good news for fans of Map Maker is that Google is now reopening the tool next month to the public, at least in a limited capacity. Basically Google is now turning towards the maps community to help handle and moderate edits to the maps.
The new model of operation will see Google picking out trustworthy community members as “regional leads” to help in the review process for future edits over specific regions. This peer-driven model will be used in addition to an automatic approval process, and reviews from Google operators, in order to ensure that incidents like this (hopefully) don’t happen again.
While you may read the full statement onGoogle’s product forums, here’s the key part of the statement from Google’s Pavithra Kanakarajan highlighting the change, and why they are making it:
It is worth mentioning that the new Regional Lead model means that edit approvals could take longer than they did under the old (mostly automated) approval system.
The first people to have access to the Map Maker outside of Google will be the Regional Leads, but Google will be inviting back users in phases starting in August. What do you think of the new community-driven edit approval system? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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