Let's introduce Local Guides Goodwill Ambassadors in each country

Google Maps tips & tricks
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We’ve been living with Google Maps for more than 20 years. This great platform has different eras but one of the most beneficial times of it, was Map Maker times with the Regional Lead program.

Through such a program local volunteers as RLs helped both sides: Google to complete the Maps and users to place correct info on the map and learn how to map, accurately. Such a program like many other programs, has also some negative sides by joining bad behavior users to it. So Google decided to discontinue it.

This decision caused lots of trouble for users and Maps. These days, POIs and road edits of many users delay and deny a lot and they have no local way to explain edits. This results in wrong data remaining for a very long time. On the other hand, spammers can now do many wrong things and vast spams but by lack of local moderation, they destroy many things and nothing can stop them. The AI is still too basic to act and stop them like a human.

So, I (and many other users worldwide) think we still need local moderation for each country, which helps move the local maps one level forward and approves/denies POI and Road edits faster than AI.

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Doing so could be a bit different from joining to old Map Maker. In the Local Guides program with the spirit of helping others, I think it is good to introduce the “Local Guides Goodwill Ambassador(s)” in each country with a dedicated badge in profile or Local Guides level in another color rather than orange. Such a badge tells all users that the work is purely volunteer and defined only for good users. The number of LG goodwill ambassadors should be limited in each country and they should have a specific channel to communicate with each other and also with Googlers.

There should be several criteria for a user to earn that badge. My suggestions:

  1. Good behavior with other users on Connect and in the local groups.
  2. More than 5 years of total volunteer experience on Maps.
  3. More than 5K approved edits.
  4. Enough number of photos and reviews.
  5. Being an active user on Connect for more than 3 years.

For the first time, Google could select LG GAs directly, but in other years, the vote of previous LG Goodwill Ambassadors should also count for new joiners.

An LG Goodwill Ambassador at least should have the ability to:

  • Edit places and roads to get instant approval.
  • Approve/deny POIs and Road edits of other users directly and with minor changes.
  • See edit history of places/roads and users who did edits.
  • Vote (in collaboration with other LG Goodwill Ambassadors) to lock a POI to keep it safe from edit attacks.
  • Vote to ban/unban a user for a specific time.
  • Being in touch with Googlers on a specific board.

There should also be a process for getting back such a badge from an LG GA if needed. In this case, Google should review the votes and/or reports of other local LG GAs and other users.

I think such a program, will make many users happy and cause them to understand the correct ways of mapping. It also helps a lot to stop spammer users before they become a big problem.

What is your opinion in this case?
If you agree with such a program, please share your idea below so, Google can consider it for the next updates of the Local Guides program after 10 years :wink:

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Yes agree with you @Amiran but if you mention via fun quiz Here you can directly massage to Googler

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Thank you @ShailendraOjha
Yes, I contributed to that fun quiz several days ago and mentioned such a suggestion, but not exactly with these complete details.

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Dear @Amiran thank you for sharing the idea, sounds interesting to me .i also realised the headline of this topic is little misleading and seems like you are announcing instead of suggesting the idea

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Thanks, @Manishhh for your support.
The title should be short, straightforward, and new to readers. I thought it would be good to explain the idea by such a title so users know it will be a new feature if applicable. If I find a totally better title, I will replace it.

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Thanks @Amiran for your initiative. I too seriously feel ‘Team Google Map’ must introduce the “Google Map Moderators” like RER (Regional Expert Reviewer) and RL (Regional Leads) in previous version of Google Map Maker. I am editing the GM since 2011 and feels that Googler must have re-introduce Local Moderators to help the new editors/LGs and too stop spam edits.

Regards

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Thanks for your valuable support @HsRawal
Yes, we really need a local moderation method that also fits within the LG program.

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@Amiran I agree with you on some points, I have been contributing to Google Maps for about fourteen and a half years and I was once the Map Maker Regional Lead in Bangladesh.
Currently, there are several problems that many moderators do not understand the culture or map problems of different regions and give an answer, which makes the problem more confusing.
I mentioned in the summary of various meet-ups that an experienced local guide based on the region should be given the responsibility of editing or approving local problems, filtering them at two levels and approving them in the final stage,

In some cases, even if the correct document is not provided, it is recognized regionally as correct, which may be possible to verify with a trusted local guide.
Previously, when I was an RL in Map maker, we used to manage such an Excel sheet within Bangladesh where if someone edited and submitted a link,

the Power Mapper and Regional leads would review and approve it. It is important to re-introduce such a system on the local guides platform

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For example, in a small shop of 10 feet by 10 feet in Bangladesh, clothes are ironed at the same time and mobile banking is also sold, so there are three different categories here, but I can probably add a category.
But it would be better if there was an option to add sub-categories here.
It is actually difficult to explain these issues to someone else, in which case if someone in this region was responsible, he could have approved or deleted them, understanding the overall context of his country.

Again, for example, there are no restrictions on uploading any pictures of a church or religious place in a foreign country, but if you upload any other type of picture of a religious place in Bangladesh or India, many unpleasant incidents happen, which are often difficult to explain in detail, problems related to the local culture.
Maybe if someone had the responsibility to remove the picture, he could have easily handled such matters with accountability and tracking.

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Happy to have your notes here @MahabubMunna

Any suggestion from old users of Google Maps could guide Googlers to a better decision about a local moderation process. Your insights are so valuable, too. We also had topics on MM support forums and local groups for moderating edits.

I think after 10 years and seeing the lack of the Googlers/AI-only moderation system, again it is time to have such a method for moderating edits locally.

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@Amiran I appreciate the thought behind this idea it addresses real problems like delays, incorrect data, and spam. Giving experienced volunteers a badge and responsibilities not only improves map accuracy but also motivates contributors to uphold high standards.

This proposal aligns with what Google values: community engagement and trust. By letting Local Guides vote on new ambassadors, it fosters ownership and accountability, making the system stronger. It’s a smart, practical solution that I fully support.

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