I think that Google maps has silently blocked my reviews from being published, they appear in my contributions section but they are not visible to other users or when I sign out. I have gone over the rules and whilst some people may not like the content I shared it has not broken the rules for publishing content on google maps.
The review that haven’t been published were regarding several unconnected venues in reference to Wage theft (but NOT connected to politics like political parties or unions) The venues in which I left honest reviews at have either been charged with an offence or I posted review with evidence (but don’t call out sensitive information) for example press statements from FWO about said venue and Dodgy Adverts targeting vulnerable workers and specifying non-compliant behaviour like illegal wages when using their company profile. This content is relevant to google users and to the venue ratings itself as the act of Wagetheft Directly effects three key elements that most review entail;
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Customer Service
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Quality of product
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Value of product
If you have two venues to choose from on google maps that seem almost identical in cost, cuisine, location and atmosphere but you discover that one doesn’t pay staff properly (If proven and not alleged) then your more likely to choose the opposite venue regardless of if you agree or disagree with the act of wagetheft, why? Because wagetheft means higher-turnover of staff, less qualified staff, staff that are less motivated or cease caring about their performance; items which all effect the experience, quality and value of a product/service.
The reviews I have left (Which are not viewable within the last two months) were Honest, Relevant to users and backed up with Facts. (Hence not libel under my geo regions legal definition).
Can someone please communicate what process I need to take to make it so my posts toggle back to visible for other users. (mediation, removal of content, etc) because I have dedicated a considerable amount of time adding content for google and want to be able to use the few perks that come along with level 7, especially considering that in Australia we don’t get any of the cool things that American and UK Local Guides get.
I am upset about this because I have spent a lot of time contributing to not only google maps but other google services and testing yet I don’t even get a notification, warning or reason but instead a silent freeze and added illusion from my accounts UI to mislead me to think that my content was successfully published when it was not; just so that I don’t kick up a stink and instead continue contributing to google.
1 Like
@The_Mixologist
Your assumption that there are some special benefits or perks associated with reaching a certain level is not correct.
I looked at your contributions and noticed that you have uploaded photos with superimposed text. That is against the guidelines. The photo in the background is probably not yours. And we can not upload the same photo twice. And superimposed text is also a no-go.
Fixing such issues might make your reviews start appearing publicly again. But there are no guarantees.
All the best
Morten
That’s so odd, can you let me know which ones have super imposed text?
There were images I added over a year ago that I made entirely in a publisher to display award wages but i didn’t have an issue back then so it can’t be those images unless there has been a new security algorithm that is retrospective.
Since that time I have edited some photos to cover information that isn’t appropriate to be shared without consent that convey personal information or opinions such as names, faces and bad language and I have used the same apps to draw circles around items like words to highlight them but I don’t believe I have added any photos that add or change context of an image in anyway that could be even remotely considers misleading or false.
If I know which items were flagged I could remove them straight away. If this is a mistake by the software or an issue with Google photo (which I used to circle words or objects in photos / screenshots) , Google drive or something else I would be more than happy to provide feedback (with no expectation of an outcome) but instead to help improve the Google Services.
Hi again @The_Mixologist
It would be really helpful if you would use the tagging tool when replying to someone here on Connect. Type @ followed by the username. Type slowly. Then we get an e-mail notification and you are more likely to get a prompt reply.
I was refering to your “slides” showing wages on a colored block over some photos. The filter may detect them later rather then when you uploaded them.
Annotating text on photos are also now allowed. All out photos on Google Maps should show the places only.
Sorry, but I think the mistake is on you. Let me know if you need links to the relevant photo guidelines.
Cheers
Morten
User generated content is checked often @The_Mixologist even old content when found to be in violation using new technology will be made private or removed entirely. Have a read of Maps User Contributed Content Policy. Using Maps for political issues is not allowed. Even well meaning efforts such as you have described are still politics. Reviews are only for places you have personally attended and experienced. Vilifying them from a press release or press article is not appropriate.
Australians have had plenty of perks @The_Mixologist they’re not automatic, to a large extent they seem random. Its a safe bet to say that out of 150 million active Local Guides only a small percentage of them have had perks.
Paul