Google Maps Hacks by Simon Weckert
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN cites it as a playful example of attacking crowd-sourced traffic data and of how automated systems can be fooled.
What it is
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.
Recommended by 0 HN commenters across 0 different months, 2023 to 2025.
What Hacker News said
Cites mabbo · 2023-08 · on “Microsoft AI suggests Ottawa food bank as a “cannot miss” tourist spot”
[this 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.
Cites irjustin · 2024-05 · on “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] [this video]
Cites DonHopkins · 2025-09 · on “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 [this 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