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Activists in Austria altered landmarks shown on Google Maps to show the effects of climate change, in order to raise awareness.
Activists Alter Landmarks Using AI to Highlight Climate Change
In a recent move to raise awareness about climate change, Austrian environmental activists from the group Letzte Generation used artificial intelligence (AI) to alter images of landmarks on Google Maps. According to AFP, these AI-generated images depicted the Danube River and Austrian lakes dried up and Alpine peaks without snow, envisioning the year 2070. Google has since removed these images, stating they misrepresented the locations and violated their content policies.
Google’s Response and Activists’ Reaction
Google clarified that their policies prohibit content that is not based on real experiences or accurately represents a location. Consequently, they removed the misleading photos. Letzte Generation was unsurprised by Google’s action, accusing the company of ignoring the climate catastrophe, akin to authorities and large corporations. The group had previously used such images on Google Maps to warn tourists about the effects of rising temperatures.
Ongoing Activist Efforts and Google Maps Changes
Letzte Generation has a history of protest stunts, including blocking highways and promising future actions, both physical and online. Meanwhile, Google Maps announced plans to discontinue its “Followed Places” feature after 2025, which allowed users to stay updated about their favorite local businesses. This change will impact users’ ability to receive notifications about business updates, such as changes in hours, special offers, or new menu items.
(Visit Times of India for the full story)
*An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.
