"Ars reached out to Google for an explanation, receiving a cryptic and somewhat satisfying reply. "Showing accurate information on Maps is a top priority," says a Google spokesperson. "We're working to fix this technical issue." So far, we are not aware of other Maps searches that have been similarly affected. Google has yet to respond to further questions on the nature of the apparent glitch, which has wiped out COVID vaccine information in Maps while continuing to return results for other medical services and immunizations."
"The sudden eroding federal support for routing vaccinations lurks in the background with this bizarre issue. When the Trump administration decided to rename the Gulf of Mexico, Google was widely hectored for its decision to quickly show "Gulf of America" on its maps, aligning with the Trump administration's preferred nomenclature. With the ramping up of anti-vaccine actions at the federal level, it is tempting to see a similar, nefarious purpose behind these disappearing results."
Google provided a cryptic reply stating that showing accurate information on Maps is a top priority and that the company is working to fix a technical issue. The glitch has removed COVID vaccine information from Maps while other medical services and immunizations continue to return results. No other affected Maps searches are currently known, and Google has not explained the nature of the problem. The timing coincides with reduced federal support for vaccination routing and recent contentious examples of Google quickly adopting politically driven place-name changes, which prompts suspicion despite no evidence of intentional targeting.
Read at Ars Technica
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