Google Maps Uses Gemini AI to Fight Fake Reviews & Edits
Google has upgraded Google Maps and Business Profiles with the help of Gemini AI. The goal? Stop fake reviews and suspicious business profile changes before they hurt local businesses.
Let’s break down what’s new and what it means for marketers and business owners.
🔎 Gemini AI Spots Suspicious Business Profile Changes
Google’s new system uses Gemini to catch risky or fake edits made to business profiles.
Here’s how it works:
- Gemini can tell the difference between a normal edit (like changing the name from “Zoe’s Coffee House” to “Zoe’s Cafe”) and a suspicious one (like suddenly changing a business from a “cafe” to a “plumber”).
- This helps stop people from tricking the system by making shady changes to how their business appears on Maps.
Google shared:
“A business that changes its name slightly is fine. But if a cafe suddenly calls itself a plumber, that’s a red flag.”
So far, this new tool has already blocked thousands of fake edits in 2025.
🌟 Gemini Also Targets Fake Five-Star Reviews
Google is cracking down on fake reviews too — especially those glowing 5-star ones that aren’t real.
What’s new:
- Gemini can now track review behavior over time to find and remove fake ones.
- When a suspicious review is taken down, users get a warning alert.
- These alerts have already launched in the U.S., UK, and India, with more countries coming soon.
This is a big step toward keeping Google Maps fair and trustworthy.
📊 2024 Moderation by the Numbers
Google shared how effective its content moderation was last year:
- 🚫 240+ million fake reviews blocked or removed
- ✂️ 70+ million risky business edits stopped
- ❌ 12+ million fake business profiles removed
- 🔒 900,000+ accounts restricted for breaking the rules
This shows just how serious Google is about cleaning up its platforms.
📍 Why This Matters for Local SEO & Marketers
For anyone managing local businesses online, this update is huge.
Google’s tools are getting smarter — and that means honest, well-managed profiles will stand out even more. On the flip side, shady tactics like fake reviews or sneaky edits can lead to penalties or lost visibility.
✅ Best Practices for Local SEO in 2025
To stay on the right track, marketers should:
- 📌 Claim and manage all Google Business Profiles properly.
- 💬 Encourage real reviews from actual customers—no shortcuts!
- 👀 Monitor for suspicious changes to your listings.
- 🚨 Report fake reviews or competitor tricks using Google’s tools.
- 📚 Stay updated with Google’s review and content policies.
🔮 What’s Next?
Google says it will keep using AI like Gemini to improve content trust and safety on its platforms. These updates are part of its larger goal to make Google Maps more helpful and reliable for everyone.
For more info, you can check out Google’s full Content Trust and Safety Report.
TL;DR:
- 🤖 Gemini AI now helps Google catch fake reviews and suspicious business edits.
- 🔍 Honest businesses will shine, while rule-breakers risk being removed.
- 📈 Marketers should focus on genuine reviews and solid profile management.
Google Maps just got smarter—and that’s great news for real businesses.
