Sections
Log in
Top News
U.S. News World News Featured Voices
Odd News
Entertainment
Movies Music TV
Sports
Soccer NFL NBA MLB
Photos
News Entertainment Sports Features
More...
Defense Featured Science Health Video Archive Almanac
About Feedback Privacy Policy
About Feedback Privacy Policy
Search
Trending
Seth Meyers
Impeachment
Russia fire
NFL scam
North Korea
Iran
Trump finances
Border wall
Today in history
R.J. Barrett
Odd News
May 20, 2015 / 1:34 PM

Google Maps search for racial slur brings up the White House

"Our teams are working to fix this issue quickly," a Google representative said.

By
Ben Hooper
President Barack Obama in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House in Washington, D.C. on May 11, 2015. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
President Barack Obama in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House in Washington, D.C. on May 11, 2015. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- Google apologized after users reported typing a racial slur into Google Maps causes the website to zoom in the White House in Washington, D.C.

Users of the map program said searching for the word along with the word "house" caused Google Maps to bring up a zoomed-in map of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., the White House, and searches conducted from multiple geographical locations had the same result.

Some users reported getting the same result using the alternate spelling replacing the "er" at the end of the racial slur with an "a."

"Some inappropriate results are surfacing in Google Maps that should not be, and we apologize for any offense this may have caused," a Google representative told The Washington Post. "Our teams are working to fix this issue quickly."

Bomani Buckhalter, who posted a screenshot of his search results to Twitter, said some friends in other locations reported the search came back with different results.

"It is location based, so [for] some of the students that are not currently in D.C., the search result was different. However, even if you're not in D.C., '[slur] house Washington D.C.' shows the same result," Buckhalter told The Huffington Post.

Google Maps allows users to make alterations with its Map Maker software. However, the feature was recently suspended following acts of vandalism including a map of Pakistan altered to show an image of the Android logo urinating on an Apple logo.

"We are temporarily disabling editing on Map Maker starting today," product manager Pavithra Kanakarajan said in a message to users, "while we continue to work towards making the moderation system more robust."

Read More

Chicago police officer caught napping in viral video may face discipline New York teacher plans Young Jedi Academy after school program Mushroom hunter finds 21-year-old message in a bottle by Michigan river
  • Topics
  • Google

Latest Headlines

Truck spills load of grapefruit onto Florida's Turnpike
Odd News // 4 hours ago
Truck spills load of grapefruit onto Florida's Turnpike
Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The Florida Highway Patrol said traffic on a stretch of highway came to a standstill when a truck lost its load of up to 1,000 grapefruits.

Airport builds Christmas tree out of confiscated items
Odd News // 5 hours ago
Airport builds Christmas tree out of confiscated items
Dec. 12 (UPI) -- An airport in Lithuania took an unusual approach to holiday decorating when it assembled a Christmas tree out of confiscated items.

Pregnancy cravings lead to $100,000 lottery jackpot
Odd News // 5 hours ago
Pregnancy cravings lead to $100,000 lottery jackpot
Dec. 12 (UPI) -- A Maryland man won a $100,000 lottery jackpot, thanks to his pregnant wife's cravings for "special cookies."

Horse named Touch of Generator entangled in active power line
Odd News // 6 hours ago
Horse named Touch of Generator entangled in active power line
Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Washington state said a horse named Touch of Generator lived up to his name when he became entangled in an active power line.

Deputies lasso deer that fell through ice into frozen pond
Odd News // 6 hours ago
Deputies lasso deer that fell through ice into frozen pond
Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Sheriff's deputies in Wyoming used a lasso to rescue a deer that fell through the ice of a frozen pond and couldn't pull itself out of the water.

New Jersey farmer dresses cows in giant-sized Christmas sweaters
Odd News // 7 hours ago
New Jersey farmer dresses cows in giant-sized Christmas sweaters
Dec. 12 (UPI) -- A New Jersey dairy farm's cows are going viral after they got into the holiday spirit by donning festive Christmas sweaters.

Rescuers save seal with fishing line digging into its neck
Odd News // 9 hours ago
Rescuers save seal with fishing line digging into its neck
Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Animal rescuers in South Africa said a seal spotted with a neck wound was found to have a length of fishing wire digging into its skin.

Minnesota teen has 3.67-inch mouth gape
Odd News // 10 hours ago
Minnesota teen has 3.67-inch mouth gape
Dec. 12 (UPI) -- A Minnesota teenager's 3.67-inch mouth gape was verified by Guinness World Records as the largest in the world.

Two-headed cobra discovered in Indian village
Odd News // 1 day ago
Two-headed cobra discovered in Indian village
Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Wildlife officials in India said a two-headed snake was discovered in a village, but locals refused to turn the serpent over because they believe it has mythological meaning.

Festive SUV pulled over for excessive Christmas lights
Odd News // 1 day ago
Festive SUV pulled over for excessive Christmas lights
Dec. 11 (UPI) -- The Washington State Patrol is warning drivers not to get too festive with their vehicles after an SUV decked out with Christmas lights was stopped on the highway.

Trending Stories

Explosion at Montana home caused by bear spray in the oven
Explosion at Montana home caused by bear spray in the oven
Festive SUV pulled over for excessive Christmas lights
Festive SUV pulled over for excessive Christmas lights
Firefighters rescue teen with fingers stuck in shopping cart
Firefighters rescue teen with fingers stuck in shopping cart
Man wins $30,000 from lottery ticket rejected by friend
Man wins $30,000 from lottery ticket rejected by friend
Minnesota teen has 3.67-inch mouth gape
Minnesota teen has 3.67-inch mouth gape

Photo Gallery

 
Sports Illustrated gala honors Megan Rapinoe as Sportsperson of the Year
Sports Illustrated gala honors Megan Rapinoe as Sportsperson of the Year

Latest News

Jersey City shooting to be investigated as domestic terror
Air Force tests conventional ground-launched ballistic missile in California
New York Yankees to re-sign veteran OF Brett Gardner
Impeachment: House panel strikes down Republican amendments
Democrats schedule debates in early primary, caucus states
 
Back to Article
/
Back to top
About UPI Contact Feedback Advertisements Submit News Tips
Copyright © 2019 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of UsePrivacy Policy