It has not been good for Google Maps recently, as search queries on the mapping service has been returning offensive results.
"Like many of you, we were deeply upset by this issue, and we are fixing it now," wrote Google VP of Engineering and Product Management Jen Fitzpatrick on a post on the official Google Maps blog.
Fitzpatrick added an apology for Google having to take some time to fix the issue.
The blog post explained that the ranking systems that are currently in place for Google have been designed to return search results which match the queries of users. Google Maps uses the same ranking systems along with content regarding businesses and public places found across the Internet.
However, Google admitted that some offensive search terms were leading to some unexpected results in maps, explained by the fact that users have been using the offensive terms in discussions about the said places in online channels. This resulted in the inappropriate and wrong results that the users most likely were not looking for when they typed in certain search queries.
Reports revealed that searching for the N-word followed by the word "house" on Google Maps will direct users to the White House.
"What we think is the cause, is that Google is seeing how people are talking about places on blogs, and Google's making those associations," said Search Engine Land founding editor Danny Sullivan, falling in line with the explanation released by Google.
Earlier in the month, Google Maps suspended the Map Maker tool, which allows users to submit their own changes and additions to Google Maps. This was due to a prank wherein a park was made to be shaped like that of the Google Android robot peeing on the logo of rival Apple.
"The most recent incident was particularly troubling and unfortunate - a strong user in our community chose to go and create a large scale prank on the Map," said Google Maps spokesperson Pavithra Kanakarajan, adding that auto-approval on the tool has been suspended until further a more intelligent system to prevent similar incidents can be implemented.
In the Google Maps blog, it was stated that the team has been working hard to be able to fix the issue, with efforts being based on the key algorithmic change that was developed and implemented in Google Search.
The Google Maps team has stated updating the ranking system of the service to prevent offensive searches from being seen again, with the roll out to be made gradually.
"Again, we sincerely apologize for the offense this has caused, and we will do better in the future," Fitzpatrick wrote to end the blog post.
