The latest spam to appear on Google Maps is Hawk Tuah, where elementary, middle, and high schools are being renamed to Hawk Tuah schools.
A peculiar new trend is sweeping Google Maps: spam edits renaming schools to variations of “Hawk Tuah.” Elementary, middle, and high schools are being mysteriously renamed to something like “Hawk Tuah High School” or “Hawk Tuah Elementary School.” What makes this spam concerning is that many of these changes are being accepted by Google Maps, sparking questions about how well Google is reviewing map edits.
It appears that users are exploiting the Google Maps editing feature to submit name changes for schools, and these edits are not consistently being reviewed by humans before going live. While some edits are rejected, many seem to slip through the cracks, suggesting a lapse in manual review processes at Google. These unmonitored changes could lead to widespread confusion, especially for parents and students who rely on Google Maps for directions and information about their schools.
It’s also possible that these are brand new listings that are getting accepted, as well. And some are being taken down or edited again, while these new ones that are popping up. Here’s an example:
The key here is “Hawk Tuah”—a name that gained viral notoriety thanks to Hayley Welch. Welch posted a video online that rapidly gained attention, humorously highlighting “Hawk Tuah,” which has now become a viral meme. While Hawk Tuah itself is not necessarily linked to any real place, the name has been picked up by internet pranksters who are inserting it into Google Maps as a form of digital graffiti.
Here is an other example, Bonham High School’s listing was renamed for a period of time. But, it looks like this one has been re-edited back to the original name:
Welch’s viral video explains how the name “Hawk Tuah” came to be, adding to the internet’s collective amusement over the phrase. As the name continues to pop up on Google Maps, it’s clear that spammers are finding loopholes in the editing process.
Google’s reliance on automated systems for approving map edits is not new, but this latest wave of spam suggests that more needs to be done to prevent inaccuracies from affecting users. Whether or not Google will begin to manually review more edits or tweak its algorithms remains to be seen, but for now, “Hawk Tuah” remains an unexpected—and unwelcome—addition to the platform.
For now, it’s important to be vigilant when using Google Maps for accurate school names and locations. Whether this prank will be swiftly eradicated or continue spreading will depend largely on Google’s response to the issue.
Update: Apparently this is much more widespread than I originally thought. A FB friend of mine mentioned that it’s also being done in Australia, as well:
