Google Map Maker is back after cleaning up its vandalism problem

This last spring, a couple of trolls took to Google Map Maker and created a park that looked like a bugdroid peeing on an Apple logo.

Google threw open the gates to the U.S. and many other countries, allowing you again to contribute to Google’s effort to detail the globe. We mentioned back in July that Map Maker was opening back up in August. Google has chosen Regional Leads from each part of the world to moderate data and ensure that only legit mods to the maps are approved. That’s because modifications are seen by the millions that use Google Maps each day. Submissions are also now reviewed by an automated system that can send a handful of edits to a Google employee for review, in the event that it’s unsure whether or not there’s something wrong with the submission. She added, “you will, however, be able to edit other attributes such as names on polygonal features”. To become a regional leader you need to apply, with the requirements of superior mapping skills and enthusiasm for the Map Maker community in your region.

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.

According to the Verge, Map Maker allows anybody to make changes to geography and listings on Google Maps which is helpful for keeping local maps up to date but leaves a lot of room for abuse.