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Level 8

Violating Local Guides Rules

Hi there!

 

Somebody has posted a picture to the business which I help to manage. This photo is not related to that business.

When I've checked the person who did it - I was shocked!

 

He's earning his points by taking one picture of the brand or company. For example 'Colorama'.

Then he's posing the same single image to all Colorama locations he could find. 

 

Basically one photo is going to 20-30 different local businesses. 

This is obviously would confuse Google Maps users since picture are not belong to the place it was uploaded to.

 

 

My question is, how can we report an abuse of Local Guides Program and launch the investigation? 

 

 

 

Here is the guy details:

 

 Bror Jonsson , Local Guide · Level 5

 

Screen Shot 2017-04-05 at 08.50.40.png

From screenshot you can see 4 same picture to 4 different location.

 

PS. I'm not sure if it was done intentionally.. I just don't like how it looks like.

 

Thanks!

 

Slava

9 comments

Accepted Solutions
Former Google Contributor
Solution

Re: Violating Local Guides Rules

Hi @SlavaD. If you find a review or photo that you think violates Google Maps' policies, you can use the 'flag as inappropriate' icon next to the contribution. A team of specialists will then check if it violates any of the policies and will take appropriate action. The review sometimes takes time as the team is careful to only remove content that violate policy.


If you've found a specific Local Guide with activity you think violates Google Maps' policies or the Local Guides program rules, let us know here in Connect (but don't share that person's information publicly) by tagging a Google Moderator and we'll reach out to you via private message with instructions on how to share that information with the Local Guides team to share with the specialists for review. Please note that we'll never be able to share the specialists' decision as we respect everyone's privacy. 


I also recommend reading this post for tips on searching, posting and interacting with the community to make your experience here on Connect much more enjoyable and easier to navigate.

New to Connect? Check out Help Desk! Always keep in mind the Local Guides program rules when posting.

View solution in original post

Former Google Contributor
Solution

Re: Violating Local Guides Rules

Hi @SlavaD. If you find a review or photo that you think violates Google Maps' policies, you can use the 'flag as inappropriate' icon next to the contribution. A team of specialists will then check if it violates any of the policies and will take appropriate action. The review sometimes takes time as the team is careful to only remove content that violate policy.


If you've found a specific Local Guide with activity you think violates Google Maps' policies or the Local Guides program rules, let us know here in Connect (but don't share that person's information publicly) by tagging a Google Moderator and we'll reach out to you via private message with instructions on how to share that information with the Local Guides team to share with the specialists for review. Please note that we'll never be able to share the specialists' decision as we respect everyone's privacy. 


I also recommend reading this post for tips on searching, posting and interacting with the community to make your experience here on Connect much more enjoyable and easier to navigate.

New to Connect? Check out Help Desk! Always keep in mind the Local Guides program rules when posting.

Level 10

Re: Violating Local Guides Rules

Hi @JeslynL thank you for your answer, some body is taking my pictures from my property and he is using to add them to maps.

 

That person violate the rules of the program. How can I denounce him?

Former Google Contributor

Re: Violating Local Guides Rules

Hi @PabloSanchez, I've reached out to you privately with more details, kindly check your inbox.

 

This post shares more information on how to report Local Guides who you believe is violating Google Maps’ policies and/or Local Guides’ Community Guidelines.

New to Connect? Check out Help Desk! Always keep in mind the Local Guides program rules when posting.

Level 7

Re: Violating Local Guides Rules

@JeslynL,

 

At the start of your earlier post in this topic, you provided a link titled Google Map' policies: 

 


@JeslynL wrote:

Hi @SlavaD. If you find a review or photo that you think violates Google Maps' policies, you can use the 'flag as inappropriate' ....


The policies outlined there are for reviews of POIs on the map.

 

Here is a link to Google policies for photos,

 

https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7411351?hl=en

 

Jim

Level 10

Re: Violating Local Guides Rules

@GusMoreira account violating Google Local Guides Terms & conditions - PM me please

Former Google Contributor

Re: Violating Local Guides Rules

@RichardTrus — I am aware that you have reached out to the team separately about this. We ask that you keep communications as such to one channel. A member from the team will respond as soon as we are able. Thanks.

New to Connect? Check out Help Desk! Always keep in mind the Local Guides program rules when posting.

Level 10

Re: Violating Local Guides Rules

I have this same question. Does this actually violate the Google Maps policy? I would never do it, because I think they'll eventually rewrite their policy to be more clear, but I'm unclear if it violates current policy.

Level 10

Re: Violating Local Guides Rules

Also, I think that for businesses, it's certainly okay to do this for their own businesses. I think it's KFC in Thailand that put their same logo picture and same heavily photoshopped piece of chicken on pretty much every Maps listing in Thailand. I think it's kind of a cheap way of getting their image up. It would be a lot better to rent a van and send an employee around Thailand for a few weeks just taking pictures of everywhere. So even though I think they shouldn't do it, I think they certainly can do it. I don't think there's anywhere in Google My Business that says, "Any photos not actually taken at your specific location will be taken down."

 

But when Local Guides do it, it comes across as them gaming the system. 

 

@JeslynL I think the policy needs clarification. I think Google is probably reluctant to clarify it though, because the answer right now is probably, "yes, it's okay to post the same Big Mac to every McDonald's in your country, as long as that McDonald's actually sells a Big Mac." And if Google clarified it like that, then they'd get a rush of people posting low quality photos just for points.

 

I think it's really a difficult thing to clarify.

Level 9

Re: Violating Local Guides Rules

Sweet Catch...Integrity Is One Of The Biggest Keys.  We Thank You.  I Do See The Photos Get Scrambled,  But Not Like This.

ThaTruthSeka