Google Maps Hack Shows Android Mascot Relieving Itself On Apple Logo

VentureBeat chronicles another episode in the sometimes delightful, sometimes cringe-worthy history of off-color, user generated content on Google Maps. The subject of the hack today is the image of an Android mascot urinating on an Apple logo.

Here’s the image as it appeared earlier today via VentureBeat:

Google subsequently removed the image. The company also confirmed that it was a user rather than an employee who created the graphic above.

Earlier this month Bryan Seely created fake verified listings in Google Maps to demonstrate ongoing vulnerabilities in the product. Here’s a Seely-hacked map showing “Edwards Snow Den” where the White House should be.

Google’s is the most widely used mapping service online. Seely was seeking through the hack to call attention to the still-existing capacity to exploit Google Maps in playful or darker ways.

Hopefully the company will close these loopholes and prevent this sort of mischief in the future.

Postscript: Google says it’s working on spam detection in maps and has identified the Map Maker account source of the “urination” image above and other Maps mischief.