Cambodia Sites Targeted in Google Maps Edits, Digital Expert Report Says

Digital expert mappers in Google’s Local Guides program said they flagged hundreds of policy-breaching edits on Google Maps involving Cambodia’s sacred sites, cities and border towns. Google said it had removed some after tensions with Thailand spiked in May, but more than half remain, according to the Cambodia-based group’s self-published report. The 27-page report, released Saturday, logged 568 infractions across 18 provinces in Cambodia since a border clash with Thailand in May that escalated into a bloody five-day conflict nearly two months later, with tensions persisting after a ceasefire. Offenses included fake locations, harassment of public figures, territorial disinformation, attacks on cultural sites and manipulated business ratings. The group said most of the edits came from low-level contributor accounts in Thai script and, after a 51-day review, it concluded the activity appeared to be part of a coordinated campaign. Google’s Asia-Pacific communications manager, Jac Cheok, said in an email to CamboJA News that the company had removed policy-violating edits, without giving a figure, and put preventive measures in place while continuing to monitor the situation. Google Maps’ policy uses a combination of automated checks, community reporting, business verification and manual reviews to maintain accuracy of locations and eliminate objectionable content.