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OpenStreetMap Reports Data Vandalism From Google-Owned IPs

Posted by timothy on from the yes-but-where-are-the-perps dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Following reports of misconduct by Google employees in Kenya and India, It has been found that Google IP addresses have been responsible for deliberate vandalism of OpenStreetMap data. While it is unlikely that this was a deliberate or coordinated attack by Google HQ on the competition, multiple such reports does raise the question of whether or not Google has become too big to effectively enforce its 'Don't be evil' philosophy across its massive organization."

6 of 178 comments (clear)

  1. this, and then that other thing... by Thud457 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's starting to sound like Google needs to reign in their over-eager foreign subsidiaries.

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

    1. Re:this, and then that other thing... by LWATCDR · · Score: 5, Insightful

      In other words it could have been.
      An honest mistake.
      Of course what really bugs me about all of this is that when people talke about the 3 strikes law I hear people say time and time again... IP addresses are not identity.
      IP addresses can be spoofed as can mac addresses.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    2. Re:this, and then that other thing... by beelsebob · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Note –Steve Coast founded OpenStreetMap.

    3. Re:this, and then that other thing... by msauve · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "IP addresses are not identity."

      Thank you. The hypocrisy around here is large, but not surprising.

      Does Google offer guest Wi-Fi access at any of their locations? Does anyone in Google run a Tor exit node? Are there any live jacks in Google meeting rooms? Do they NAT multiple internal addresses?

      It's one thing to confirm suspicions by setting up a honeypot phone number like Mocality did, and then receive calls from people identifying themselves as being from Google. It's quite another to only point to an IP addresses and place blame with no further evidence.

      --
      "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
  2. Re:Cheap publicity stunt--admin who found evidence by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...without approaching Google at all...

    Good point. Fairness would be to first ask google for a position, maybe it was indeed just a rogue individual, or a mistake or whatever.

    but then comes the first question: how would one actually accomplish this feat, i.e. to "approach" google. Complaint addresses are exceedingly difficult to find, and those that are there don't seem to be manned. So it seems to me, the only solution does indeed be to skip the "let's discuss this first" step, and go directly to the press. Google, if you don't like this, then please become more "approachable", and people will approach you before badmouthing you in public.

  3. Re:Warning by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You have no opinion on it, yet you came into the thread to... what, check if the first comment was an anonymous attack on you so you could defend your good name? Come off it - you were clearly up for another anti-Google rant and are just acting affronted now that you've been caught out ahead of time. How is this kind of shilling not illegal?