In a report detailing efforts to maintain the reliability of Maps information, Google disclosed that it removed seven million fake business profiles in 2021.
Furthermore, Google prevented tens of millions of fake business profiles from being created and disabled over a million user accounts associated with "bad actors."
Ensuring the accuracy of information in Google Business Profiles and Google Maps is becoming more challenging as the number of contributions increases each year. Google receives 20 million contributions daily from Maps users, including updated business hours, contact information, photos, and reviews.
Here are the key highlights from Google’s report on maintaining the accuracy of Maps and Business Profile information.
How Google Ensures Local Business Information Remains Reliable
Google employs a combination of machine learning and human operators to identify fraudulent or abusive content in Maps and Business Profiles. While contributions to businesses increased by 30% in 2021 compared to 2020, less than 1% were deemed fraudulent or abusive. Although most contributions are well-intended, some "bad actors" attempt to make abusive edits or create fake Business Profiles.
Google intercepts most malicious content before it goes live in Search and Maps. Here’s how much of that content was detected in 2021.
Fake Information Removed From Google Maps & Business Profiles In 2021
In 2021, Google:
- Blocked over 100 million abusive edits from going live.
- Removed seven million fake Business Profiles.
- Received 630,000 reports of fake Business Profiles, which were acted upon.
- Stopped 12 million attempts to create fake Business Profiles.
- Prevented eight million attempts to claim Business Profiles by unauthorized individuals.
- Disabled over one million user accounts due to policy-violating activities, such as online vandalism or fraud.
- Applied protections to over 100,000 businesses after detecting suspicious activities and abuse attempts.
- Blocked or removed 95 million policy-violating reviews.
- Took down over one million reviews that were directly reported.
- Blocked or removed over 190 million photos and five million videos that were of low quality or violated content policies.
Google remains committed to ensuring the reliability of Google Maps and Business Profile information. If you encounter fraudulent information in your or any other business profile, you can report it directly to Google. As this data shows, Google does respond to the reports it receives.
Featured Image: TonelsonProductions/Shutterstock
