Tourists put in danger because they trust Google Maps.

Salvatore Corrias, the mayor of Baunei on the island of Sardinia, claims that Google Maps has given incorrect directions, leading tourists by car to dangerous areas. The cost of rescuing tourists like this is very expensive, so Corrias filed a complaint with the Ministry overseeing internet affairs to try to block Google Maps signals on the island. "We've written to Google hundreds of times already, so this time we had no choice but to file a legal complaint to block it," he said.

The mayor also instructed managers of hotels, museums, and restaurants on the island to warn tourists against relying on navigation apps, recommending instead the use of paper maps. Local authorities also placed signs indicating that certain roads are only accessible by four-wheel drive (4x4) vehicles.

Representatives from Google Maps said they are working with local authorities to resolve the issue. They are also researching ways to better warn drivers when traveling on similar roads.

In fact, Baunei is not the only town experiencing problems caused by GPS tracking. Several other towns in the Alps have also filed petitions with authorities to prevent skiers from attempting to reach remote mountain areas and ending up getting lost.

Previously, a driver in the US was stranded in a muddy field in Denver after trusting a navigation app and taking a shortcut to the airport. In 2017, instead of directing passengers to the correct address, the Blue Mountains west of Sydney (Australia), a navigation app directed them to the town of Dargan in New South Wales.

Hannah Nguyen