Google redraws the borders on maps depending on who’s looking
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Submission timeline
2007–2026One slot for every year since HN launched. Height is that year's peak points; orange marks a 100+ point or 50+ comment breakout. Select a bar to open its strongest thread.
First comments on top threads
HN comment orderWhile this sounds bad, this is quite normal and expected by any multi-national corporation using a map service. Companies don’t get to choose the favored boundaries when doing business in Russia or China, given having the wrong lines can result in legal issues or even expulsion from the market. Is this good for a freer world? Perhaps not. Is this better for everyone’s bottom lines? Most definitely. Source: I run a map company. (For now, we default to the boundaries…
It’s pretty obvious why: Country 1 has a law saying that incorrect maps are illegal and Area A is part of country 1. Country 2 has a law saying that incorrect maps are illegal and Area A is part of country 2. If you want to do business in both countries you have to play by their local rules. Which means showing the boundaries as that country defines it while within that country.
Finally a solution to the NI brexit mess!
The first top-level comment from each of the four biggest threads, in HN’s own order. Excerpts are shortened; open a comment for full context.
- Breakout years
- 2
- Total points
- 179
- Total comments
- 139
100+ points or 50+ comments
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
Every submission
| Date | Title as submitted | By | Points | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-02-14 | Google redraws the borders on maps depending on who’s looking | johnny313 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020-02-15 | Google redraws disputed borders, depending on who’s looking | DyslexicAtheist | 6 | 0 |
| 2020-02-15 | Google redraws the borders on maps depending on who’s lookingFirst breakout · Best thread | axiosgunnar | 117 | 67 |
| 2021-06-03 | Google redraws the borders on maps depending on who’s looking | ekglimmer | 12 | 2 |
| 2023-09-09 | Google redraws the borders on maps depending on who’s looking (2020)Latest 20+ point return | eatonphil | 40 | 70 |