Google Maps prank sees Liverpool's Anfield home show up when term 'gobs***es' is searched
Everton pranksters are the prime suspects
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Google Maps has been edited to show Liverpool FC ’s Anfield home when the term “gobs***es” is typed into the search bar.
No one has come forward to take responsibility for the hack but there is no shortness of suspects with Everton fans the most likely pranksters given their affinity for branding their Merseyside rivals with the derogatory term.
Google were quickly made aware of the change to the system, which was created in 2005 and uses a crowdsourcing feature to improve its accuracy which seems to have been used to make the edit to Anfield.
The search has now been rectified with the term “gobs***es” now bringing up zero search results.
It is not the first time Google Maps has been used to stoke the flames of Premier League rivals, with Manchester United and Tottenham both falling victim.
In 2015 United’s Old Trafford home, nicknamed the ‘Theatre of Dreams’, would come up if the user searched for the ‘Theatre of S****’, while Tottenham’s old White Hart Lane ground would come up as the destination if you searched ‘The S***hole’.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments