Google Map Maker Returns After High-Profile Pranks

— -- Google Map Maker made its triumphant return to the Internet this week with a set of new tools designed to thwart pranksters from carrying out the same types of stunts that prompted the service to be shut down in May.

The service, which allows user contributions to maps around the world, is being re-introduced this week in 45 countries, including the United States, with a set of new safeguards, including community moderators who can watch for inappropriate edits. Six countries were phased back in earlier this month.

Google also disabled the shape editing tool that was previously abused by some pranksters. In one instance, a large-scale prank involving the Android robot urinating on the Apple logo, placed on the outskirts of Rawlpindi, Pakistan. Previous hacks reported included one placing Edward Snowden in the White House and fake highway exits, among others.

The pranks were able to be pulled off because Google relies on auto-approval and user moderation to handle the edits. After the Android prank, Google switched to human moderators, only to see its backlog of edits grow.