Hidden Address Now Visible When User Clicks "Edit Business Details"

[Colan Nielsen]

Map Maker has a known issue of displaying the addresses of businesses even though they have followed the guidelines and hid their address in the places dash.

I was checking on a client who has a hidden address and noticed that their address is now visible when you click the "edit business details" tab right on the G+ Local page.

I have never noticed this before, so I assume this is a result of the EBD feature being linked with Map Maker now??

Has anyone noticed this? What do you think?

 

[Linda Buquet]

Yep Colan I've noticed and think the same as you do. Thanks for bringing it up.

I feel this is a privacy issue for those that CHOOSE to hide address because they don't want it showing up to the public. Could even be a safety/security issue for someone like a home-based tow truck driver that does not want people to know where he AND HIS FAMILY lives!!!

The privacy issue was not QUITE as bad when address only showed in MM because most consumers don't know to check there. BUT now that they can see it right on the page via edit details, I think it's a bigger concern!

And I also have expressed concerns to Google that having address showing in MM could be causing compliant listings to be deleted if moderators are seeing the address in MM and have no way of knowing the address is properly hidden in dash.

My address shows in MM. And I got a call from moderators even though MY address was hidden in dash. They wanted to delete me. I knew enough to scream 2 times at the guy who could not understand English "My address is hidden in the dashboard. My listing is compliant. Please do not delete my listing!"

But what SMB is going to know to say that???

Actually in Advanced G+ L training I have a section that covers how to coach SAB clients about the whole issue of dealing with Google moderator calls, so they don't get deleted and above is one of the things I cover.

So I think for those 2 reasons this is a pretty big deal. I know it's been brought up to Google but I don't remember what they said if anything. I may alert them to this thread and bring it up again.

 

[Andrew Sawyer]

Yep Colan I've noticed and think the same as you do. Thanks for bringing it up.

I feel this is a privacy issue for those that CHOOSE to hide address because they don't want it showing up to the public. Could even be a safety/security issue for someone like a home-based tow truck driver that does not want people to know where he AND HIS FAMILY lives!!!

The privacy issue was not QUITE as bad when address only showed in MM because most consumers don't know to check there. BUT now that they can see it right on the page via edit details, I think it's a bigger concern!

And I also have expressed concerns to Google that having address showing in MM could be causing compliant listings to be deleted if moderators are seeing the address in MM and have no way of knowing the address is properly hidden in dash.

My address shows in MM. And I got a call from moderators even though MY address was hidden in dash. They wanted to delete me. I knew enough to scream 2 times at the guy who could not understand English "My address is hidden in the dashboard. My listing is compliant. Please do not delete my listing!"

But what SMB is going to know to say that???

Actually in Advanced G+ L training I have a section that covers how to coach SAB clients about the whole issue of dealing with Google moderator calls, so they don't get deleted and above is one of the things I cover.

So I think for those 2 reasons this is a pretty big deal. I know it's been brought up to Google but I don't remember what they said if anything. I may alert them to this thread and bring it up again.

Its great for fighting spam, not so good for people who want to hide their address to the public. The address is showing in EBD because it is Map Maker as stated by the TOS at the bottom.