Google Shutting Down Crowdsourced “Map Maker” Editing Tool

After eight years or so of offering people the chance to edit Google Maps through a tool called Map Maker, the company says it’s going in a different direction, and will be retiring the standalone project in March 2017.

However, you’ll still be allowed to contribute to Google Maps, through Google’s Local Guides program, the company announced in an online forum.

“This update will enable us to focus on providing the best editing and moderation experience within Google Maps on both desktop and on mobile,” the company said. “We’ll continue to roll out new features to make sure you’re able to do most of the things you’ve grown accustomed to doing in Map Maker – like edit roads – leading up to March 2017 and after.”

Map Maker let anyone contribute data to Google Maps, with the idea that humans could supplement the work of Google’s mapping cars. In May 2015 Map Maker hit a snag, however, when someone added an image of an Android bot urinating on the Apple logo.

Google shut down Map Maker at that time, but announced in August 2015 that it would be opening the tool back up to users in phases.

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