Chaos erupted on German highways on Thursday, kicking off one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, due to a significant issue with the Google Maps navigation service, which mistakenly indicated that almost all roads in the country were closed.
As reported by the Guardian, drivers using the app, particularly near major cities like Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Berlin, encountered maps cluttered with red flags. Similar issues were also reported in parts of Belgium.
Many who relied on Google Maps were left believing that large sections of Germany were immobilized. The confusion was further intensified by the influx of travelers hitting the roads for a four-day shutdown for the Ascension Day holiday.
Users of alternative navigation apps, such as Apple Maps or Waze, or those who tuned into radio traffic reports, discovered that the supposedly closed roads were operating normally. Social media users expressed their frustration, with some lightheartedly remarking that the map looked like a face with “pimples.”
The uproar led some to speculate whether there had been a terrorist act or a cyber attack from a foreign entity. The exact cause of the digital error remains unknown.
A Google spokesperson informed German media that the company is looking into the cause of the malfunction, emphasizing that the maps are continuously updated using data from three primary sources: external providers, public transportation authorities, and individual users. Once errors were reported, the team began the process of verifying and correcting the incorrect data.
“We cannot comment on specific instances,” the spokesperson stated, but noted that these combined sources typically provide a reliable and current database.
In the wake of this incident, authorities advise drivers to consult multiple sources before starting their journeys to prevent similar occurrences.
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