A Youtuber has come up with a simple way to trick Google Maps into thinking there is a traffic jam in an empty road - by wheeling a cart full of mobile phones along the street.
The hack results in Google diverting drivers away from the 'congestion'.
Simon Weckert showed how taking a barrow filled with 99 mobile phones tricked Google Maps into believing there was a lot of traffic in an otherwise empty street.
Mr Weckert wheeled his little truck along the centre of a road in Berlin and watched the traffic report on Google Maps turn from green - for little or no traffic - to red for very busy.
In his video description, Mr Weckert said: “99 smartphones are transported in a handcart to generate virtual traffic jam in Google Maps.”
Mr Weckert was able to exploit Google Maps' strategy of collecting data from lots of users to gauge how busy areas are, reports The Mirror.
The trick was pulled off by making sure Google Maps was active on all 99 phones.
Mr Weckert said: “Through this activity, it is possible to turn a green street red which has an impact in the physical world by navigating cars on another route to avoid being stuck in traffic. #googlemapshacks.”
His video has had more than 1.7 million likes, and 642 comments, with many viewers surprised at how easy it was to trick the app.
One viewer commented: "Just goes to show how we are the source of all their information," while another added: "Can I hire you to walk up and down my street so cars stop cutting through?"
Another said: "I want to live in a place like this where you could walk through the streets with a wheelbarrow full of phones without getting robbed."
A Google spokesman said: “Whether via car or cart or camel, we love seeing creative uses of Google Maps as it helps us make maps work better over time."
