Hong Kong concerned as pranksters rename schools on Google Maps
Changes range from manga character’s name to ‘psychiatric hospital’, but authorities not amused as wrong labels pop up on Uber, Lalamove
Hong Kong education authorities have expressed worries about pranksters renaming schools on Google Maps, which has led to the incorrect labels appearing on other apps such as Uber.
The Education Bureau said on Thursday it had received reports from schools that their names had been altered on the popular map platform.
“[We] learned that some schools have already contacted the platform requesting a prompt correction. Some school names have been restored to normal,” a bureau spokesman said.
“The Education Bureau will continue to monitor the situation and stay in touch with the schools.”
Buddhist Tai Hung College in Cheung Sha Wan was one of the about a dozen schools targeted, with tricksters renaming it “Nobi Nobita College”. Part of the school’s Chinese name, Tai Hung, bears a resemblance to the fictional character Nobi Nobita in the Japanese manga Doraemon.
Tseung Kwan O Government Primary School was at one point altered to “Tseung Kwan O Psychiatric Hospital”, while Fukien Secondary School in Kwun Tong was renamed to “Fukien Crazy Secondary School”.
