Individual deliberately instigated a virtual traffic congestion on Google Maps by using 99 mobile devices simultaneously
In a striking demonstration of digital influence on the real world, German artist Simon Weckert recently posted a video on YouTube showing how he manipulated Google Maps. Weckert used 99 smartphones and a wagon to create 'virtual traffic jams' in Berlin, causing drivers to turn away from streets where there was actually no traffic.
The smartphones, put into a cart and wheeled around various streets in Berlin, including outside the Google office, tricked Google Maps into thinking there was a high concentration of users on those streets. As a result, Google Maps' servers interpreted the situation as traffic congestion and began showing this to others on the street. Green streets turned red in the online navigational tool, signalling traffic jams where none actually existed.
Interestingly, no physical traffic jams occurred during the demonstration. Google Maps was further tricked into believing that the traffic was slow-moving because the smartphones were in a cart. The navigation app started showing virtual traffic jams, but no cars were actually held up.
The tweet does not provide any information about the potential consequences of such manipulation on Google Maps or its users. It does, however, suggest that the engineer has knowledge about how Google Maps works. A senior software engineer for Google Maps, Peter Birch, tweeted that he believes Weckert's experiment is possible.
Google has not yet officially commented on Weckert's experiment. It's worth noting that Google Maps has geo tools that allow users and businesses to interact with maps in a novel way. The tweet does not specify the exact nature of the interaction between users and businesses on the Google Maps platform.
The tweet does not confirm or deny the validity of Weckert's experiment. It does imply that the manipulation described by Weckert could potentially be replicated by others. This demonstrates how digital technology can have a real impact on the real world.
The video has sparked discussions about the potential misuse of digital technology and the need for more transparency and accountability in such systems. As digital technology continues to play an increasingly significant role in our daily lives, it's crucial to consider the potential implications and take steps to ensure the safety and integrity of these systems.
