Google pulled its new AI image generation feature from Google Earth less than 48 hours after launching it. The tool, powered by the Nano Banana 2 image generator, let users create fake scenarios on top of real satellite imagery using text prompts.
What the Feature Did
Users could type prompts like “collapsed Eiffel Tower” or “sinkhole at the Great Pyramid” and get AI-generated images layered onto real Google Earth satellite data. These images could then be downloaded and shared on other platforms.
The BBC Verify team tested the feature and successfully generated images of a collapsed Eiffel Tower, a sinkhole swallowing the Great Pyramid of Giza, and Russian tanks in Kyiv. All images appeared on top of authentic satellite coordinates and real base imagery.
Why Google Pulled It
Google said it had seen “people sharing screenshots of generated imagery that appear to violate our policies.” The company acknowledged that people uniquely trust Google Earth for a reliable view of the world.
Misinformation expert Henk van Ess demonstrated the risks by creating fake images of a nuclear power plant in Iran, a refugee camp on the US-Mexico border, and a bombed hospital in Gaza. His assessment: Google allowed “invented” imagery to be “welded to genuine coordinates, drawn on genuine imagery.”
The forgery does not need to look convincing on its own. It inherits the credibility of the map it was born on.
Watermarks Didn’t Solve the Problem
Google said AI-generated content contains invisible watermarks to indicate manipulation. BBC Verify found this detection generally worked, but it was also possible to circumvent these checks and trick Gemini into confirming fake Google Earth images as real.
External AI detection tools also failed in some cases to identify the Google Earth AI content.
Impact on Journalism and Crisis Reporting
AI detection researcher Henry Ajder warned that fake satellite imagery in conflict zones could prove destabilizing, especially during fast-moving events when information is scarce. Geospatial analyst Bill Greer noted that satellite imagery has historically been seen as an especially trustworthy data source.
Governments already restrict access to satellite data in many regions. Adding AI-generated fakes to the mix means fewer real images and more doubt about the ones that remain.
What Happens Next
Google said it would implement “stronger guardrails” before re-enabling the feature. The company has not provided a timeline for when or if the tool will return.
FAQ
What was the Google Earth AI tool?
A feature powered by Nano Banana 2 that let users generate AI images on top of real satellite imagery using text prompts.
Why did Google remove it?
Users quickly shared AI-generated fake satellite images that could spread misinformation, including fake disaster scenarios at real locations.
Can Google Earth AI images be detected as fake?
Google added invisible watermarks, but BBC Verify found ways to circumvent detection and even trick Gemini into confirming fakes as real.
Will the feature come back?
Google said it would implement stronger guardrails but provided no timeline for re-enabling the tool.
