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Google IP Vandalizing OpenStreetMap [Not a comprehensive post]

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Re: Google IP Vandalizing OpenStreetMap [Not a comprehensive post]

#11
post #2

This is the user, but I'm having a rough time trying to identify the offending edits: http://www.openstreetmap.org/user/kane123/edits Has Google released any statement beyond the one that said "We were mortified to learn that a team of people..."? I'm overly curious on the results from Google's investigation. I can see the connection with Mocality being mentioned, but vandalizing seems odd. I would venture that this…

Some more detail here: http://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/talk-gb/2012-Januar...

Re: Google IP Vandalizing OpenStreetMap [Not a comprehensive post]

#12
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If these are the same as the Mocality people, I wonder how long before Google audits and fires them? I also wonder if we'll find out about any more wrongdoing. Hopefully Google shuts them down soon.

I'm really suspicious of any claim that the top brass at Google honestly knew nothing about it... (What would these employees even have to gain? It's not like they have much to gain if Google's stock goes up, and if they're hiding this from management, they're not getting paid for it.)

>I'm really suspicious of any claim that the top brass at

>Google honestly knew nothing about it...

If Google Management knew of this, wonder why they would let this happen from Google IP addresses...

Re: Google IP Vandalizing OpenStreetMap [Not a comprehensive post]

#13
There’s an interesting comment from Tom Hughes:

“As the person who (in my role as an OpenStreetMap system administrator) first discovered this `incident' let me start by saying that I consider this post to be grossly irresponsible and wholly inappropriate.

[ … ]

It seems to me that this is just an attempt to get some cheap publicity by trying to like the project to the Mocality incident, and I cannot support such behaviour.”

Re: Google IP Vandalizing OpenStreetMap [Not a comprehensive post]

#15
According to ReadWriteWeb [1] Google PR responded

We're aware of OpenStreetMap's claims that vandalism of OSM is occurring from accounts originating at a Google IP address. We are investigating the matter and will have more information as soon as possible

[1] http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/google_osm_vandalism.ph...

Re: Google IP Vandalizing OpenStreetMap [Not a comprehensive post]

#17

The founder of OSM and author of this blog post runs Bing Maps. I hesitate to bring this up and add to the melodrama -- but people should be aware of the interests of the parties involved.

To be completely fair, the post is signed by three people. The other two are an OSM Sysadmin and an OSMF board member.

I'm not saying that there may not be a conflict of interest, but this post has some support from the board of the foundation.

Re: Google IP Vandalizing OpenStreetMap [Not a comprehensive post]

#18
post #2

This is the user, but I'm having a rough time trying to identify the offending edits: http://www.openstreetmap.org/user/kane123/edits Has Google released any statement beyond the one that said "We were mortified to learn that a team of people..."? I'm overly curious on the results from Google's investigation. I can see the connection with Mocality being mentioned, but vandalizing seems odd. I would venture that this…

It could also just be a broken bot. You'd think Google would be smart enough to know not to POST 100k times to an outside service, but it's possible there's someone in the ranks who just doesn't know what they are doing.

Re: Google IP Vandalizing OpenStreetMap [Not a comprehensive post]

#19

There’s an interesting comment from Tom Hughes: “As the person who (in my role as an OpenStreetMap system administrator) first discovered this `incident' let me start by saying that I consider this post to be grossly irresponsible and wholly inappropriate. [ … ] It seems to me that this is just an attempt to get some cheap publicity by trying to like the project to the Mocality incident, and I cannot support such beh…

What were Tom's arguments? It would give better perspective than just his conclusion.

Re: Google IP Vandalizing OpenStreetMap [Not a comprehensive post]

#20

I can understand Mocality posting on a blog their findings, but this is an awful and not very credible way of make public your accusations. Look forward to an explaination?... then contact them directly instead of "sand bagging" them (borrowing a colloquialism from Family Guy).

Just curious. How do you know the relevant person to contact in Google (or for that matter any big company) ?

EDIT - I'm genuinely curious. Other than the sales people etc. I could'nt find any relevant details.

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