Aug 30, 2018 - Technology

Mapbox corrects anti-Semitic relabeling of New York City

Photo via Snap Maps

Users of Snap Maps, readers of the Weather Channel, and other consumers of mapping data provided by Mapbox were startled to see New York City relabeled "Jewtropolis" for a few hours Thursday morning, before the service removed the change.

The big picture: Mapbox, like most digital mapping services, allows the public to suggest corrections and updates. In this case, the service said in a statement, automated systems flagged the change but human review failed. Earlier this week, Google Maps briefly showed the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. as renamed after the late Sen. John McCain — a move under discussion but not yet approved.

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