HackerTube

Google Maps Hacks by Simon Weckert

Simon Weckert0 HN recommenders · 2023–2025
3.6M views · demo · evergreen · Uploaded 2020-02-01

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.

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

Creative coding & generative artPrivacy, surveillance & cybercrimeVisual arts, photography & architecture

Watch on YouTube

3 comments from Hacker News

@mabbo2023 · in “Microsoft AI suggests Ottawa food bank as a “cannot miss” tourist spot”

[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.

CitesView on HN
@irjustin2024 · in “One malicious car could trick smart traffic control systems in the US (2018)”

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]

CitesView on HN
@DonHopkins2025 · in “That Secret Service SIM farm story is bogus”

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

CitesView on HN