Editing Google Maps (section)

=== Misdirection incidents ===

==== Argentina ====
In May 2025, a Brazilian tourist driving from [[Perito Moreno, Santa Cruz|Perito Moreno]] to [[El Calafate]] walked {{convert|25|km|mi}} on foot during a snowstorm after Google Maps directed him to an unpaved section of Santa Cruz's 29 highway where his car got stranded. He was rescued by local police after walking for five hours in freezing weather.<ref name="Rio Negro">{{cite news |title=A pie, solo y en la nieve: así encontraron al turista brasileño perdido en un tramo viejo de la Ruta 40 |url=https://www.rionegro.com.ar/sociedad/video-solo-sin-senal-y-a-pie-asi-fue-el-rescate-del-turista-brasileno-perdido-en-la-nieve-en-santa-cruz-4139580/ |language=es |access-date=31 May 2025 |agency=Diario Río Negro |date=22 May 2025}}</ref>

==== Australia ====
In August 2023, a woman driving from [[Alice Springs]] to the Harts Range Racecourse was stranded in the Central Australian desert for a night after following directions provided by Google Maps.<ref name="Allison-2023">{{Cite news |last1=Allison |first1=Charmayne |last2=Robinson |first2=Lee |last3=Goetze |first3=Eliza |date=2023-08-15 |title=A student nurse was left stranded in the desert with just an esky of beers after Google Maps led her astray |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-16/google-maps-leaves-student-nurse-stranded-in-desert/102729818 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922141922/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-16/google-maps-leaves-student-nurse-stranded-in-desert/102729818 |archive-date=September 22, 2023 |access-date=2023-09-22 |work=[[ABC News Australia]] |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref name="Al Jazeera-2023">{{Cite web |date=21 September 2023 |title=Google sued after man drove off collapsed bridge following map directions |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/21/google-sued-after-man-drove-off-collapsed-bridge-following-map-directions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125084122/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/21/google-sued-after-man-drove-off-collapsed-bridge-following-map-directions |archive-date=January 25, 2024 |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]] |language=en}}</ref> She later discovered that Google Maps was providing directions for the actual [[Hart Range, Northern Territory|Harts Range]] instead of the rodeo. Google said it was looking into the naming of the two locations and consulting with "local and authoritative sources" to solve the issue.<ref name="Allison-2023" />

In February 2024, two German tourists were stranded for a week after Google Maps directed them to follow a dirt track through [[Oyala Thumotang National Park]] and their vehicle became trapped in mud.<ref name="Meacham-2024">{{Cite web |last=Meacham |first=Savannah |date=2024-02-21 |title='I wouldn't want to live this again': Tourists lost for a week after Google Maps mishap |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/i-wouldn-t-want-to-live-this-again-tourists-lost-for-a-week-after-google-maps-mishap-20240221-p5f6rn.html |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |language=en |agency=[[Australian Associated Press]] |archive-date=February 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227020817/https://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/i-wouldn-t-want-to-live-this-again-tourists-lost-for-a-week-after-google-maps-mishap-20240221-p5f6rn.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lagan |first=Bernard |date=2024-02-29 |title=Google Maps stranded us with crocodiles and snakes in the outback |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/article/google-maps-stranded-us-with-crocodiles-and-snakes-in-the-outback-bgxz6r0w5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240223113341/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/google-maps-stranded-us-with-crocodiles-and-snakes-in-the-outback-bgxz6r0w5 |archive-date=February 23, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-29 |work=[[The Times]] |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> [[Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service]] ranger Roger James said, "People should not trust Google Maps when they're travelling in remote regions of [[Queensland]], and they need to follow the signs, use official maps or other navigational devices."<ref name="Meacham-2024" />

==== North America ====
In June 2019, Google Maps provided nearly 100 [[Colorado]] drivers an alternative route that led to a dirt road after a crash occurred on [[Peña Boulevard]]. The road had been turned to mud by rain, resulting in nearly 100 vehicles being trapped.<ref name="Lou-2019">{{Cite web |last=Lou |first=Michelle |date=2019-06-26 |title=Nearly 100 drivers followed a Google Maps detour – and ended up stuck in an empty field |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/26/us/google-maps-detour-colorado-trnd/index.html |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=December 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213234347/https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/26/us/google-maps-detour-colorado-trnd/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Al Jazeera-2023" /> Google said in a statement, "While we always work to provide the best directions, issues can arise due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather. We encourage all drivers to follow local laws, stay attentive, and use their best judgment while driving."<ref name="Lou-2019" />

In September 2023, Google was sued by a [[North Carolina]] resident who alleged that Google Maps had directed her husband over the Snow Creek Bridge in [[Hickory, North Carolina|Hickory]] the year prior, resulting in him drowning. According to the lawsuit, multiple people had notified Google about the state of the bridge, which collapsed in 2013, but Google had not updated the route information and continued to direct users over the bridge.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=2023-09-21 |title=Google sued over fatal Google Maps error after man drove off broken bridge |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/09/lawsuit-says-man-died-after-google-maps-directed-him-over-collapsed-bridge/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |language=en-us |archive-date=September 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922163735/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/09/lawsuit-says-man-died-after-google-maps-directed-him-over-collapsed-bridge/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lynch |first=Jamiel |date=2023-09-21 |title=Family sues Google alleging its Maps app led father to drive off collapsed bridge to his death, attorneys say |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/21/us/father-death-google-gps-drive-off-bridge-lawsuit-north-carolina/index.html |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=January 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125084120/https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/21/us/father-death-google-gps-drive-off-bridge-lawsuit-north-carolina/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Al Jazeera-2023" /> At the time of the man's death, the barriers placed to block access to the bridge had been vandalized.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ritter |first=Moira |date=September 20, 2023 |title=Dad of 2 died after driving off collapsed bridge, family says. Now, Google being sued |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article279563759.html |access-date=January 25, 2024 |work=[[The Charlotte Observer]] |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118220946/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article279563759.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Matza |first=Max |date=2023-09-21 |title=Google accused of directing motorist to drive off collapsed bridge |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66873982 |access-date=2024-01-25 |work=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB |archive-date=January 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120070521/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66873982 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In November 2023, a hiker was rescued by helicopter on the backside of [[Mount Fromme]] in [[Vancouver]]. [[North Shore Rescue]] stated on its Facebook page that the hiker had followed a non-existent hiking trail on Google Maps. This was also the second hiker in two months to require rescuing after following the same trail. The fake trail has since been removed from the app.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roy |first=Adam |date=2023-11-08 |title=A Hiker Is Lucky to Be Alive After Following a Fake Trail on Google Maps |url=https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/news/a-hiker-is-lucky-to-be-alive-after-following-a-fake-trail-on-google-maps/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110005235/https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/news/a-hiker-is-lucky-to-be-alive-after-following-a-fake-trail-on-google-maps/ |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=[[Backpacker (magazine)|Backpacker]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Holpuch |first=Amanda |date=November 12, 2023 |title=Hikers Rescued After Following Nonexistent Trail on Google Maps |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/12/world/canada/google-maps-trail-british-columbia.html |access-date=February 29, 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=January 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110094932/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/12/world/canada/google-maps-trail-british-columbia.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Also in November 2023, Google apologized after users were directed through desert roads after parts of [[Interstate 15]] were closed due to a [[dust storm]].<ref name="Wilson-2023">{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Madeline |title=Google Maps Is Sorry for Sending L.A.-Bound Drivers on Nightmare Desert Detour |url=https://lamag.com/latravel/google-maps-sorry-for-sending-la-las-vegas-drivers-on-nightmare-desert-detour |access-date=November 29, 2023 |work=[[Los Angeles (magazine)|Los Angeles]] |date=November 29, 2023 |archive-date=December 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215221000/https://lamag.com/latravel/google-maps-sorry-for-sending-la-las-vegas-drivers-on-nightmare-desert-detour |url-status=live }}</ref> Drivers became stranded after following the suggested detour route, which was a "bumpy dirt trail".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wu |first1=Daniel |title=Google apologizes after map led drivers down dirt path into the desert |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/11/28/google-maps-desert-detour-california-vegas-formula-one/ |access-date=November 29, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 28, 2023 |archive-date=November 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129010730/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/11/28/google-maps-desert-detour-california-vegas-formula-one/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the incident, Google stated that Google Maps would "no longer route drivers traveling between [[Las Vegas]] and [[Barstow, California|Barstow]] down through those roads."<ref name="Wilson-2023"/>

==== Russia ====
In 2020, a teenage motorist was found frozen to death while his passenger was still alive but suffered from severe [[frostbite]] after using Google Maps, which had led them to a shorter but abandoned section of the [[R504 Kolyma Highway]], where their [[Toyota Chaser]] became disabled.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stewart |first=Will |date=2020-12-11 |title=Man frozen to death after Google Maps wrong turn |url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/man-frozen-to-death-after-google-maps-wrong-turn/news-story/13e10cbbc96494ee26e6dea29f4fb469 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210708182405/https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/man-frozen-to-death-after-google-maps-wrong-turn/news-story/13e10cbbc96494ee26e6dea29f4fb469 |archive-date=2021-07-08 |access-date=2024-03-02 |work=[[news.com.au]]}}</ref>

==== India ====
Google Maps has been linked to several misdirection incidents in India in 2024.<ref name="Bhattacharya-2025" /> In 2024, three men from [[Uttar Pradesh]] died after their car fell from an under-construction bridge. They were using Google Maps for driving which misdirected them and the car fell into the [[Ramganga]] river.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-11-25 |title=Google Maps leads three men to death as car plunges from incomplete bridge into river in Bareilly, UP |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/google-maps-leads-three-men-to-death-as-car-plunges-from-incomplete-bridge-into-river-in-bareilly-up/articleshow/115651260.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-11-25 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389 |archive-date=November 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241125142729/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/google-maps-leads-three-men-to-death-as-car-plunges-from-incomplete-bridge-into-river-in-bareilly-up/articleshow/115651260.cms?from=mdr |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-24 |title=UP News: Google Map Route Leads To Death Of 3, Car Falls Into Ramganga River in Bareilly |url=https://english.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/up-news-three-dead-after-car-plunges-into-ramganga-river-in-bareilly-driver-followed-google-maps-to-incomplete-bridge-10203012 |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=English Jagran |language=en |archive-date=November 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241124184823/https://english.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/up-news-three-dead-after-car-plunges-into-ramganga-river-in-bareilly-driver-followed-google-maps-to-incomplete-bridge-10203012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The bridge had no warning signs or barricades in place at the time of the incident. Engineers from the state's road department and a Google Maps official were identified in a police complaint on charges related to the case.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mollan |first1=Cherylann |last2=Syed Moziz |first2=Imam |title=A fatal car crash in India sparks concerns over Google Maps |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly23yknjy9o |access-date=22 April 2025 |work=BBC News |date=29 November 2024}}</ref>