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An Anonymous Coward writes in with a Guardian story about Google temporarily shuttering a feature allowing users to add information to Google Maps:

Google introduced Map Maker in 2008 as a tool to allow users of Google Maps to edit the information on the service directly. While the majority of the mapping information is brought in from third-party providers, those providers fall short of universal coverage, particularly in some nations where location information is controlled by government regulations.

Users can use Map Maker to draw features directly on to the map, adding information such as roads, rivers, green spaces and built-up areas to the database, as well as local businesses and amenities. But while the information contributed by new users is pre-moderated, either by Google or by more experienced users, long-term users can make edits without much oversight at all.

It was one such user who prompted Google to shut down the service, introducing a picture of the Android robot urinating on the Apple logo and a message saying "Google review policy is crap" to the map of the area outside Rawalpindi in Pakistan.

Also drenched at The Register.