If you wonder what the strangest place on our planet is, let me tell you, it’s not the Bermuda Triangle, nor even Snake Island in Brazil. It’s not even a place, but rather a virtual space that bends time and place into a somewhat distorted continuum.
That’s, of course, not how you imagine Google Maps, a web mapping platform most of us couldn’t live without. But this corner of Reddit titled “Google Maps Shenanigans” documents the weird and wonderful happenings captured around the world, proving just how full of randomly weird and crazy things this planet Earth really is.
According to the subreddit’s description, this is the community “for all of the interesting, funny, or otherwise unusual things you see on Google Maps,” so get ready for more questions than answers. And a healthy dose of laughter!
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My Dog Died A Few Years Ago But When I Look At Google Maps She’s Still There Chasing The Street Car
Say Hi To Guinness
Caught My Dog Chilling In The Main Entrance Of My House On Google Maps, It’s Been Over 1 Year Since He Passed Away
The world of navigation has never been the same since Google Maps was released in 2005 and became a quintessential tool for anyone who needs to get from one place to another, offering detailed directions, real-time traffic updates, and alternative routes. Ask any traveler and they will tell you that navigating in a different country without the app on their phone would be barely possible (we've surely gotten too lazy to use good old paper maps!).
Meanwhile, on the internet, Google Maps has offered a whole new kind of entertainment. With people browsing deeper into the platform, they soon realized there are interesting things captured there.
Caught The Google Car Driver Breaking The Law
Someone Just Hacked The Planet
These Streets In Nova Scotia
But experts warn that Google Maps, just like Google Earth and Google Street View, may cause some privacy concerns most people are completely unaware of. Previously, we spoke with cybersecurity expert Daniel Markuson from NordVPN, who shed a light on these privacy concerns.
“Google Street View cameras are able to capture images and moments that people would like to keep private (such as protesters at an abortion clinic, people in bikinis, or other activities that are wanted to be private, even though they are visible from the public property),” he said.
“Quick Guys, Get In Formation”
Thank You 360 View
Chicago Poo Police
Moreover, Google Street cameras take pictures from an elevated position and are able to capture pictures over hedges that are designed to keep territories private.
While faces and car numbers are blurred automatically, and anyone can request to blur parts of the picture, it doesn’t mean people can have full privacy. “There are still many images of potential break-ins, sunbathers, and individuals entering adult bookstores that could be found online as they were republished so many times,” Markuson told us.
Boy Falling Off A Bench Found In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!
After An Hour Of Looking Along The West Coast, I Found A Whale In The Ocean On The West Coast! (33 Feet Long)
This Segway Bus
Markuson reminds us that “people photographed by Google Street cameras never give their consent for doing that. And this is a big privacy issue as anybody who wants to remain completely private in the digital world should have the right to do that.”
Another important thing to be aware of, Markuson argues, is that “if you enable location tracking on your Google Maps, Google will collect data about your whereabouts under its Location History section. It is being done across devices where you’re signed in with your Google account. If you’ve been keeping your location tracking on, you can see your own location history map here.”
Drug Deal Caught On Google Maps
This Dog’s Blurred Butt
The Algorithm Used To Blur Faces Blurred The Statue Of Liberty
“Needless to say that by using Google Maps for planning routes and searching for places, you’re feeding Google with valuable information about your whereabouts which can later be used for targeting you with ads,” the cybersecurity expert said.
Moreover, Google Earth privacy issues are mostly connected to its Google Street View feature. “Many people don’t want their homes to be shown there as they see this as a breach of their privacy,” Markuson concluded.
Imagine This Moment Of Your Life Immortalized On Google Maps Forever
Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
Streetview Censored This Cat For His Privacy
If the cat was facing the house and had the tail up - it was required for decency
At Least They Had The Decency To Censor The Legs
Just Another Night In St Petersburg Russia I Guess
Nice Cloud In Slovakia
Apparently The Fastest Bus In Existence On Google Maps--Seattle To Kyrgyzstan And Back To Seattle In Only 47 Minutes
It’s Veiny Too!
Google Maps Approved My Photo For The Vet
A Old Guy Made This For His Wife On Their Farm Without Her Knowing About It As A Celebration Of Their Life Together
And Stay Out!
Kidnapping Found In Sweden!
btw, this isn't real lol. It's a staged 'scene' for Google maps (like the horse with the banana) hence their outfits look so comedic.
In October 2017, I Got Spotted By The Google Maps Street View Car Not Once But Twice In Two Different States
Virgin Atlantic Photo-Bombed The Satellite Image
This Man In A Trash Can, Found In Some Park In Sweden
Found In Zambia
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
4 People In 4 Coloured Hazmat Suits In Norilsk, Russia. The Further On Street View You Travel The Stranger Their Actions Get, From Staring Into Walls To Checking Random Letterboxes
Spiderman On A Roof Found In Japan!
Hrm
Escaped Prisoner Found Near A Jail!
This Dog-Shaped Mountain In Antarctica
16 September 2013 - I Witnessed My Crazy Tin-Foil-Hat Neighbor Scream And Threaten To Sue The Google Street Car Driver If Photos Are Taken Of His House And Demands That Google Blur It Out (They Never Did Blur It)
He;s also somewhat melting into the ground. Must have forgotten his tin foil hat...
Google Street View Blurred Out My Horses Face
In The Aftermath Of A Furry Convention We Get This Google Maps Treasure
Google Car Getting Pulled Over In The Florida Keys
Presented Without Comment
Don't Talk To Me Or My Son Ever Again
Dad: "Martha there's a big scary truck in front of the house." Mum: "Sigh... Timmy, can you go protect your father again?"
A Replica Of The Eiffel Tower In Inner Mongolia China
This Place In Austin Texas
The Costa Concordia Cruise Ship
A Flipped Over Police Van In London
What Happened To Spiderman?
Helpful
Trying To See A House For Sale In Street View
Open Beer Tossing Google Car Driver
Why do people do this? Do they like living on a garbage bealt? Just keep your garbage in the car until you get home and toss it on the floor in your living room if finding a litter bin is too difficult. Does this person know that bin liners are mobile and the rolls are not fighting against being put in the car?
Street View Is A Gift
Quick, The Google Car Is Coming
Found This Kid In Brooklyn
Double Jeans!
Darth Vader Spotted Taking Out The Trash In New Zealand
Found While Searching An Address For Work. Made My Day
Just How The Hell Do I Get To Your House
House Hunting In The UK And Found This Bloke Biking With A Chair
Fire Is Very Angry Today
F U Google
Hey... Hello!
Dipping Sauces In The Middle Of The Utah Desert?
Looks like some kind of...evaporating ponds maybe? I've seen similar looking ponds for evaporating sea water for salt on youtube vids.
On A Wall On The Side Of A Road In Ghana
"You Don't Actually Do This Every Day, Do You??" Austin, Tx, Sh-71w To I-35s Ramp
Wait... What?
Trying To Decide If I Should Take It Or Not? 🤔
When You Realize That You're Going To Be On Google Street View But You Have Nothing Funny Planned
Rainbow Plane, Montclair, Nj
This Normal Bench In Italy Called Grey Bench, With No History Whatsoever, That Has More Than 80 Reviews And 4.8 Stars Rate On Google Maps
Uhmmm Tf Is This Google ? Here's The Coords: 72°00'36.00"S, 168°34'40.00"E
A St. Louis Mailbox With One Review
Spotted A Giant Inflatable Baby In A Lawn While Playing Geoguessr
I think its a gender reveal party, judging by the pink balloons and ribbon
Quickest Route From Montreal To Boston
So I Was Trying To Find The Closest Place That Sells Pancakes
Random fun fact: if I’m not wrong I believe the “coconut and peanut pancakes” are called martabak
He's Gonna Get You! (Monrovia, Liberia)
Not Satisfied With Mere Shoe Sales
The Nike missile system was used in the United States but are all decommissioned the were active from the 50’s until the late70’s. The was on near where I grew up that the school used part of the command station for the kindergarten classes. Link to a video of people exploring it https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TUD34wlmCMo
He Is Jesus
She Woke Up To The Google Car Capturing Her Tp'd House
Poor gal. And such a waste of TP! That better not be Sharmin! (Edit: grammar)
Noice Work Google
Interesting Exercise Attire
Medical scrubs. He should pick a different color, though. Although his place of work may have positions color-coded.
Florida In Florida
Switzerland 😆
The kid who was sliced, slender woman and ghost head. Coming soon to theatres near you
Helpful #2
Big Yikes!
Plane Appears To Be In Parking Lot, Probably Not Uncommon But Seemed Neat To Me
Every Red Dot Marks Sirens In Israel Over The Last 30 Minutes
Dang. He Got Us Good…
Wait! Doesn't it have to be below the waist for it to count? So if he's sitting in a car, but raising his hand above his waist so we can see it, it doesn't count because it's not below his waist! He did not get you good, he just doesn't fully understand the rules.
Scared The S**t Out Of Me When I Turned The Camera Around
The Creativity Of Canadians
Barrack Obama Fortnite Academy - School In Ireland
I came here just to add this. i was checking out my old walking routes. This person was just laying on his driveway. Going down the street looking back they stayed there, face down, hands on the side and not moving. I think they were planking. The capture was from 2019, not really a planking crazed time. Doesn't seem like they were injured in any way nor sun bathing. Idk, maybe they were sunbathing. With clothing. On their driveway. No blanket or towel. LOL 331978023_...0da6fe.jpg
Recently I got up in the morning. Was wearing an old tshirt and pj bottoms, hair a crazy mess, no makeup and went to get my area ready where I work from home. This included pulling up the bay window blinds open at the front of my house. In a secluded rural neighborhood that hardly gets any traffic. There I was for the whole world to see when not Google but the Apple Maps car drives by. Gad what a lovely view.
LOL They usually blur out the windows when people are in view inside their homes. I did catch me and my daughter sitting at the bus stop. Saw the Google mobile drive by. Our faces were blurred out and I hardly recognize myself.
Load More Replies...My favourite is still this: https://www.google.com/maps/place/South+Yorkshire+Police+Operations+Complex/@53.3970079,-1.4034013,17z/data=!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x487977c3772a9353:0xa4b1e940b7ae6f81!2sLetsby+Ave,+Tinsley,+Sheffield!3b1!8m2!3d53.3970047!4d-1.4012126!16s%2Fg%2F1hc36fngd!3m5!1s0x487977c27fa4d3c7:0x4a42f26951f7a8f3!8m2!3d53.3961031!4d-1.3995784!16s%2Fg%2F1vg6t7xr
What year? Just looked it up and didn't spot anything out of the ordinary.
Load More Replies...When the Covid lockdown first happened in 2020, my son (10) and I (42) were looking at vacation spots on Google. Then I remembered a friend of the family that got caught flipping off the Google car at work so I go to the location and notice the picture was gone. Then I realized that my husband is clearly pictured in the background working on a customer's vehicle. What's odd is that, for 1, he hadn't worked there in over 2 1/2 years and for 2, he passed away in 2019. I saved the screenshot and it's in an album with all his other photos. I bet he'd be pissed to know he'll be working that job forever lol
His showing up in that photo is weird and yet pretty funny... laughed at working there forever. Now I'm afraid to check my old work place lol
Load More Replies...When GE/GSV first appeared it was amazing to see places you might never go to, or plan a journey to a new city, or find hidden weirdness, but now there is a website that tells you where it'll be and when, these are just people standing around being "wacky"./oldmanshoutsatclouds
Plain to see what was on this town planner's mind. Gold Coast, Australia Town-Plann...ed376d.jpg
I was checking out the sphinx in Egypt, when I noticed that they had blurred someone’s torso from the back. No idea why.
Our home is in two different stages. The old home that we tore down and the new home we were innprocess of building. Apparently when Google came through they turned at the intersection. So if you “drive” down the road in Google view tou get two different images of our home. I cant seem to figure out how to share the link…
I came here just to add this. i was checking out my old walking routes. This person was just laying on his driveway. Going down the street looking back they stayed there, face down, hands on the side and not moving. I think they were planking. The capture was from 2019, not really a planking crazed time. Doesn't seem like they were injured in any way nor sun bathing. Idk, maybe they were sunbathing. With clothing. On their driveway. No blanket or towel. LOL 331978023_...0da6fe.jpg
Recently I got up in the morning. Was wearing an old tshirt and pj bottoms, hair a crazy mess, no makeup and went to get my area ready where I work from home. This included pulling up the bay window blinds open at the front of my house. In a secluded rural neighborhood that hardly gets any traffic. There I was for the whole world to see when not Google but the Apple Maps car drives by. Gad what a lovely view.
LOL They usually blur out the windows when people are in view inside their homes. I did catch me and my daughter sitting at the bus stop. Saw the Google mobile drive by. Our faces were blurred out and I hardly recognize myself.
Load More Replies...My favourite is still this: https://www.google.com/maps/place/South+Yorkshire+Police+Operations+Complex/@53.3970079,-1.4034013,17z/data=!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x487977c3772a9353:0xa4b1e940b7ae6f81!2sLetsby+Ave,+Tinsley,+Sheffield!3b1!8m2!3d53.3970047!4d-1.4012126!16s%2Fg%2F1hc36fngd!3m5!1s0x487977c27fa4d3c7:0x4a42f26951f7a8f3!8m2!3d53.3961031!4d-1.3995784!16s%2Fg%2F1vg6t7xr
What year? Just looked it up and didn't spot anything out of the ordinary.
Load More Replies...When the Covid lockdown first happened in 2020, my son (10) and I (42) were looking at vacation spots on Google. Then I remembered a friend of the family that got caught flipping off the Google car at work so I go to the location and notice the picture was gone. Then I realized that my husband is clearly pictured in the background working on a customer's vehicle. What's odd is that, for 1, he hadn't worked there in over 2 1/2 years and for 2, he passed away in 2019. I saved the screenshot and it's in an album with all his other photos. I bet he'd be pissed to know he'll be working that job forever lol
His showing up in that photo is weird and yet pretty funny... laughed at working there forever. Now I'm afraid to check my old work place lol
Load More Replies...When GE/GSV first appeared it was amazing to see places you might never go to, or plan a journey to a new city, or find hidden weirdness, but now there is a website that tells you where it'll be and when, these are just people standing around being "wacky"./oldmanshoutsatclouds
Plain to see what was on this town planner's mind. Gold Coast, Australia Town-Plann...ed376d.jpg
I was checking out the sphinx in Egypt, when I noticed that they had blurred someone’s torso from the back. No idea why.
Our home is in two different stages. The old home that we tore down and the new home we were innprocess of building. Apparently when Google came through they turned at the intersection. So if you “drive” down the road in Google view tou get two different images of our home. I cant seem to figure out how to share the link…