We’re thinking of our community in Ukraine, Europe and beyond

[Connie-NYC]

We’re devastated by what we’ve seen unfold over the past days due to the war in Ukraine. We realize that it impacts the lives of millions, including many members of our Local Guides community.

To everyone affected by what’s going on right now — we see you, and we are thinking of you. Our hearts go out to you and your loved ones, and we hope you’re staying safe.

We’re proud to see how Local Guides have come together on and off Connect to offer words of support and remind us that building connection and friendships is core to our community.

We also wanted to share an update on some changes Google Maps is making which might affect some of you. Our teams are working around the clock to support people in Ukraine through our products, including Google Maps.​​

Out of an abundance of caution and with safety in mind, teams are removing user contributions like photos, videos, reviews, and business information and all user-submitted places from Google Maps in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus since the invasion began. We are also temporarily blocking new edits from being posted on Maps in those countries. And after consulting with multiple sources on the ground, including local authorities, we’ve temporarily disabled some live Google Maps features in Ukraine, including the traffic layer and information about how busy places are, to help protect the safety of local communities and their citizens. We’ve also added information on refugee and migrant centers in neighboring countries.

You can read more on The Keyword about additional steps Google is taking to help during this crisis.

We hope all of you stay healthy and safe during this time.

[Michele_Paoletti]

As a person and as a local guide I am deeply sad and sorry for the situation inUkraine . Many human lives have lost their lives and world peace is at stake. As local guides, we should also make our presence felt in some way. Solidarity with all the people who are experiencing war .

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[ErmesT]

Ciao, @Michele_Paoletti , e grazie per il tuo messaggio di pace qui in Connect.

Io, per rimanere nei topic di questa community, ho provato a farlo in un altro modo, e spero che voglia farlo anche tu, raccontando di come l’amicizia attraversi I confini

Molti dei miei amici vivono in paesi dove ci sono attualmente, o ci sono stati di recente conflitti, perciò ho pensato di parlarne in un altro modo, un po’ diverso e più profondo di quello che facciamo nei Social Media.

Siamo una community mondiale, e per noi raccontare con le nostre parole l’amicizia tra le persone e tra i popoli può aiutare molti.

Ti va?

[mukeshrijal19]

We too hope there may exist peace and Ukraine is just trying to protect the sovereignty of country…I’m from Nepal and we are people of peace area and don’t like war. In this 21st century the way of Misbehaving small countries by large and strong country is not good…

I pray to God to end this war as soon as possible

[Jahurulhaque]

We want dream world without war. Peace planet, humanity of happiness.

[Roka93]

Owner Anh Hòa Huỳnh Let’s hold hands together with a solid and united holy block… Resist aggression Threatening humanity… Those things are unacceptable Get the kind of heartless person that Putin wants to go against humanity

[Rijali]

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kami masyarakat indonesia sangat sedih, melihat kedua negara sahabat indonesia dalam keadaan memanas… kami selalu menonton berita setiap hari… hentikan lah perang, pikirkan lah keadaan masyarakat yang terkena dampak. jika masih ada jalan lain yang bisa di tempuh secara harmonis sebaiknya jauhi lah perang… kami tidak tau mau membela siapa, rusia ada saudara indonesia, dan ukraina pun sama… tolong hentikanlah perang, kami dulu pernah merasakan bagai mana batin ketakutan, marah, sedih dan dilema tapi sekarang kami sudah damai dan menjaga keramahan sbagai tradisi kami agar rasa kelam tidak terulang… tolong hentikan perang jika masih ada jalan keluar yang lebih harmonis… kami siap membantu masyarakat yang terkena dampak dalam makanan atau obat obatan. seperti yang sering di lakukan kedua negara saudara kami rusia dan ukraina saat kami terkena musibah…

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[Rijali]

[PHOTO REDACTED]

kami masyarakat indonesia sangat sedih, melihat kedua negara sahabat indonesia dalam keadaan memanas… kami selalu menonton berita setiap hari… hentikan lah perang, pikirkan lah keadaan masyarakat yang terkena dampak. jika masih ada jalan lain yang bisa di tempuh secara harmonis sebaiknya jauhi lah perang… kami tidak tau mau membela siapa, rusia ada saudara indonesia, dan ukraina pun sama… tolong hentikanlah perang, kami dulu pernah merasakan bagai mana batin ketakutan, marah, sedih dan dilema tapi sekarang kami sudah damai dan menjaga keramahan sbagai tradisi kami agar rasa kelam tidak terulang… tolong hentikan perang jika masih ada jalan keluar yang lebih harmonis… kami siap membantu masyarakat yang terkena dampak dalam makanan atau obat obatan. seperti yang sering di lakukan kedua negara saudara kami rusia dan ukraina saat kami terkena musibah…

[Daalbadal]

The Ukraine-Russia conflict, which centers on fields, roads and cities, is no longer hot news, everyone knows about it. But this conflict has extended beyond physical limitations, it has spread to our digital networks…Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, Twitter and many more, communication networks….a fundamental weapon during the invasion and a tool that has been used to speak and information among all people, including to warn the Russian civilian people of events across borders, which are often or almost always not accessible due to government controls.

There’s been a wave of publicity in various places on the net, Tinder, TripAdvisor, you mention it!

What was not expected, was the power that Google Maps in the hands for both sides.

Google Maps allows you to mark, create shareable lists of sites, obtain directions and more recently, show areas with the greatest movement of people…if you still don’t realize…there are many negative favorable utilities when there is an invasion/war for the subject and a great advantage for the dominator. It really is strategic information.

Until, on February 28, 2022, the following publication appeared on Twitter.

It spread quickly and in less than 3 days it reached 24 thousand shares and 79 thousand likes [March 2, 2022].

The idea, at its base, is simple, to inform customers of local businesses and their Russian owners about the invasion that their leader follows. But deep down, if we’re unbiased, it’s spam and malicious for local businesses.

The platform is not a social network, and we can admit that it doesn’t even work in that direction, and if there’s something social about the platform, it’s this one, Local Guides Connect, but they also don’t have as much impact as the dozens of information sharing social networks that already exist.

We have to be fair and legitimate, no one likes to have their business “vandalized” by comments or photos of dead people on any and all subjects, we are talking about the invasion, right, but we could also be talking about reviews about fighting racism, veganism, climate change, women’s right to vote, lgbt, about whether it rains, about the benefits of eating apples or the new iphone…these are comments and topics that do not fit the profile and usefulness of the application.

We can give opinions on the matter, but Google has already spoken.

This information transmission chain appears to be closed for now, as well as live transit, but with a little ingenuity, the technology will likely continue to provide opportunities to inform the Russian people about what is happening in Ukraine and beyond.

[TAYYABTKA]

Hello World / Humanity. Let’s try to make the world with wonders of wisdom, words and works. Live life for the great but not for the greed …! Google, Could you help us to reach / go the great goal of the globe! Please provide the tools to make the Google the most user friendly to connect and keep in touch with trust…!

[AnshukMitra]

We are like a family . I’ve been in touch with couple of Local Guides friends from Ukraine and thankfully they are safe. Temporarily disabling live location is really a great step and thanks to Google for this @Connie-NYC

[Tejal]

@Connie-NYC

This post give positive vibes for local guide suffering in ucrain.

@JaneBurunina you are always in my prayers.

Regards Tejal

[KashifMisidia]

These are some great initiatives especially disabling Live Location and adding new edits. Everyone here are connected with each other like body parts of a human, If there is pain in one part of the body, then the whole body suffers. We all are with Ukraine and with the people of Ukraine.

Thank you so much @Connie-NYC for the post.

[AbdullahAM]

Wonderful post for the present situation in Ukraine and thank you for your post @Connie-NYC

Love for the Ukraine Local Guides and all the people

[Globe_trotter_Ish]

Thank you for this post @Connie-NYC ! These are really some great initiatives especially disabling Live Location and adding new edits by the team. I pray for all the affected friends and families and specially pray for my Local guide friends there that they be safe and all this ends soon ! We as Local Guides are big one family so seeing one or other member in pain hurts , but all we can do currently is pray for them and make sure not sharing any news or piece of information regarding which we are not 100 % sure ! Kudos to the team for another good initiative !

[Pratik_89]

This is a great step taken via Google maps thank you @Connie-NYC for the update.

My prayers with Ukraine’s be safe i wish this should stop as soon as possible take care guys.

Lots of love from India

[Morenorod3]

Praying for Ucrania, May our Lord protect the people of Ucrania, Shalom God Bless

[Rungrot_Saibutdee]

I can not do you from mobile

[Shrut19]

नमस्कार,

** @Connie-NYC **Thanks for sharing care bond for our LG family…

@JaneBurunina

& many others from Ukraine we all pray for peace & it will allover soon

[SholaIB]

Thank you for this @Connie-NYC

Indeed our thoughts and prayers are with them in that part of the world. We hope and pray for peace and quietness in Ukrain, Europe and indeed the world in general.

We think of our fellow local guides in that situation and we want to let them know,they are not alone we love then and wish them well.

Cheers