Google Withdraws 'AI Satellite Image Editing' Feature After Just One Day Over Misuse Concerns

Suspended Over Fears of Fake Satellite Images

"Feature Rolled Back Until Stronger Safeguards Are in Place"

Google suspended the use of its newly introduced artificial intelligence (AI) image editing feature in its mapping service, Google Earth, after concerns were raised that it could be exploited to spread disinformation.

According to major foreign media outlets on August 1, Google unveiled a feature on July 30 (local time) that applied the AI image generation model 'Nano Banana 2' to Google Earth, but withdrew the feature just one day after its release. The feature allowed users to generate or edit images of specific locations with AI based on satellite images, aerial photographs, and three-dimensional (3D) map data.

Screen running Google Earth. Screenshot of Google Earth screen.

Google explained that the feature could be used to visualize historical scenes, or to preview real estate development plans and construction projects. Google Earth has long been widely used by the media and research institutes as a key resource for checking situations in difficult-to-access regions such as war zones, disaster sites, and military facilities.

However, immediately following its release, open-source intelligence (OSINT) experts and disinformation researchers expressed concerns that the feature could be misused to naturally synthesize fake scenes, such as explosions or accidents, over real terrains and buildings, thereby promoting the spread of false information. According to AFP's own tests, it was possible to create fake satellite images resembling a Paris explosion site, Iranian nuclear facilities, Russian bomb craters, and training sites of the Islamic State (IS) in Syria.

As the controversy grew, Brian Horowitz, Google Earth Product Manager (PM), announced via an update less than 24 hours after the feature's release that it would be rolled back. In his announcement, Horowitz stated, "We encountered cases of generated images being shared that appeared to violate our policies," and added, "We will revert the feature until we put more robust safety measures in place."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.