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Google Maps Hacks by Simon Weckert

Simon Weckert · 3.6M views · 2020-02-01 · 1:43

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Overview

An art project by Simon Weckert in which 99 smartphones pulled in a handcart create a fake traffic jam on Google Maps. A green street shows as red, which diverts cars to other routes.

On Hacker News

HN cites it as a playful example of attacking crowd-sourced traffic data and of how automated systems can be fooled.

Discussed on HN; no positive recommendation is recorded in this export · HN mentions 2023–2025

Topics

Creative coding & generative artPrivacy, surveillance & cybercrimeVisual arts, photography & architecture
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google mapstraffic dataart projectdata spoofingsmartphones

What people said

DonHopkins · 2025-09 · Reference

Maybe they were going to use them to hack Google Maps and fake traffic jams! An Artist Used 99 Phones to Fake a Google Maps Traffic Jam: [LINK] Google Maps Hacks by Simon Weckert [VIDEO] >99 smartphones are transported in a handcart to generate virtual traffic jam in Google Maps.Through this activity, it is possible to turn a green street red which has an impact in the physical world by navigating cars on another route to avoid being stuck in traffic. #googlemapshacks

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irjustin · 2024-05 · Reference

As far as traffic attack vectors go, this is semi-intersting. I like the wagon of smart phones attack[0]. Seems more fun and easy to do. I'll bet you could get all of Waymo's cars to reroute or force them to funnel into one street. THAT would be a cool show. [0] [VIDEO]

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mabbo · 2023-08 · Reference

[VIDEO] He put 99 smart phones in a wagon with all of them running Google maps in drive mode. Google interpreted this as a traffic jam, and made other cars avoid the area.

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Sources

Video by Simon Weckert, played through YouTube.

Data and selection notes

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