I’ve been sharing detailed posts on Google Maps, often including AI-generated images to make my content visually appealing and helpful for others. These images were designed to complement my reviews (e.g., tips for taking better photos, how to write impactful reviews), and I believe they added a creative touch.
However, I’ve noticed that Google removed some of these images, despite them being clearly marked as illustrations to help others. I understand the platform prioritizes authenticity, but can’t creativity and useful visuals also be encouraged?
What are your thoughts? Have you faced similar challenges? Do you think there’s a way for Google to better support contributors who use AI tools responsibly?
I’d also love to hear feedback on my posts and ideas to enhance them while staying within Google’s guidelines!
Hello @Vishal_meena as of my knowledge local Guide team & connect forum, always prefer original content & images, yes if you want to share creative images you can take creative & innovative angle photos & photography.
As a Local Guides we’re not allowed to use AI generated image as our contribution, our reviews should be our real experiences and images also should be captured by own.
To make google map safe and more useful we need real images and information. That’s why AI images are not allowed. Visit places and try to take images or videos for Map. Thank you.
If I remember correctly, your AI generated images from your post contained elements that were forbidden by the policies.
More in details we are taking about Google Imagery that are owned by Google and protected by copyright.
In fact some of the AI generated images created by you are visible, so I think they removed only the ones that are against the Local Guides term and conditions.
“The Local Guides logo is a Google brand identity and is reserved for official use only. Do not use the Local Guides logo, pin, or any other Google imagery in any of your online or offline materials without expressed written permission.”
Hi @Vishal_meena kindly go through the guidelines. I think Google Maps is a place where people could able to find authentic information and Google is working strictly on that. Using too much filtered image, blurry image, multiple identical images, and using AI generated image reduce the authenticity. I think you should consider all of these primary factors and post only those image which fullfill the above criteria and of course the image should be clicked by you.
Regarding your second question, I suggest you to deeply review your contents, to read them carefully and to follow them first.
@AbdullahAM , @Shaunak , @Mehedi_LGC , @Shaunak are highlighting the importance of sharing original contents in Google Maps. Even if their answer is only partially related to your question, it is still a FUNDAMENTAL answer for you. Originality in fact also means “Images taken by us” and not STOLEN images from the web, like most of those you have uploaded to Google Maps, as has already been pointed out to you by local Guides such as @TravellerG and @DibyayanC in some of your posts.
I suggest you to read the Maps user-generated content policy - Maps User Contributed Content Policy Help, especially for this part: “We use a combination of people and machine-learning algorithms to detect such content and to help prevent others from finding it. This policy outlines the criteria for how to publish UGC on Maps and how we address inappropriate or policy-violating content. For example, posts or edits must be based on real experiences and information. Deliberately fake content, copied or stolen photos, off-topic reviews, defamatory language, personal attacks, and unnecessary or incorrect content are all in violation of our policy”
Considering that 32 of your 44 reviews and 549 of your 922 images on Maps have already been made private by Google, and the few remaining are clearly stolen, I wonder what kind of “Expertise” you are trying to pass on to others with your posts in Connect.
Honestly, I believe that what we declare in our posts in Connect should always be consistent with what we post in Google Maps. Here unfortunately the only consistency that comes to mind is: You fake the content in Maps, and you fake the content in Connect.
I apologize if what I write seems inappropriate to you, but you see, my first concern is to make sure that someone can improve and correct the errors, and I can’t do that by saying that you are good, because you are not.
But from here you can only improve, delete the fake and stolen content in Google Maps, do not try to be cool by posting about things you know absolutely nothing about, and start from scratch.
Maybe one day you will be able to say “I am a real Local Guide”. But be careful: given the speed with which your content is removed by Google, I think the time you have left to fix everything before you are banned is very short.
You are welcome, @Shaunak .
As you are a teacher and a social worker I am sure you know very well how negative is the use of copied content.
I know that sometimes my way to “educate” can appear a bit rude, but looks like this is the best way to have a result, especially when the people claim to be a master and they are not.
I am a social volunteer too, and I spend several hours every day to improve our environment, the physical one and the virtual one.
Ya I can completely understand @ErmesT and agree with your words. I know sometimes you need to change the teaching methods in a way to make others understand.
Thank you for your detailed feedback and for taking the time to guide me. I understand the importance of authenticity and originality in contributing to Google Maps as a Local Guide. I also acknowledge that some of my content may not fully align with Google’s policies, and I want to improve moving forward.
Regarding my existing posts:
Many of them have gained high views, and I believe they’ve helped users in some way. However, I understand the concern about originality and the use of AI-generated visuals. I’d appreciate it if you could guide me on how to refine my existing content without losing the impact it has already created.
For future posts:
How can I ensure my contributions are more authentic and impactful?
Are there specific practices or tools you recommend for capturing high-quality, engaging photos?
How do I balance creativity with compliance to keep my posts engaging but within the guidelines?
I truly value being a part of the Local Guide community and want to contribute in a meaningful way. Thank you again for pointing me in the right direction. I’m committed to learning and improving."
Thank you for asking @Vishal_meena
The fist step, that you will have to do it ASAP, is to clean your profile in Google Maps.
Others tried just to hide it from the public, but this is useless, because Google has access to your contents.
Photos: remove all the stolen photos. If you can use a desktop computer, where it’s very clear that most of them are just low res. screenshots
Reviews: avoid generic historical descriptions and keep to be focused on your own experience about the place. Edit the old reviews where you do this, and maybe te reviews will be back. Of course you can appeal but you must clean your profile first. Otherwise the check by Google will end in a permanent ban.
The steps above are mandatory. If you are banned it doesn’t make any sense to talk about how to be helpful here in Connect.
Come here when everything is clean, and we will have the possibility to talk about how to grow.
