Ask HN: Why do I get different Google Maps Results on Different Accounts?

6 points

4 years ago

I came across a meme which made reference to a longitude and latitude. Being curious, I entered it on Google Maps and it took me to a building in the Czech Republic. Nothing was immediately apparent so I switched to the satellite view. My juvenile sense of humour was satiated and I immediately decided to forward the coordinates to a couple of friends with equally juvenile taste.

I got one reply back asking me what the significance of a blank building was? First I thought they had totally missed the joke but it occurred to me that this image was rather hard to miss.

I fiddled around for a bit and tried on my different Gmail accounts and I was able to replicate different satellite images being displayed. One set of images clearly new and crisp, whilst the other rather blurred and dark.

Now I warn you, this a bit NSFW but the comparison is below.

https://imgur.com/a/v9yLpZb

So my question is: does anyone know what factors go into displaying different results to different accounts?

My first thought would be some form of timed rollout of new imagery to prevent any glitches and naughties reaching the masses. But that clearly slipped through the cracks.

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