Google Maps changes China's borders based on its viewers' locations

Google Maps changes China's borders based on its viewers' locations

There are 32 countries that Google Maps refuses to draw borders around, but Quartz has unearthed another politically correct feature of the site: The borders of Arunachal Pradesh are different when viewed from different locations.

Quartz created GIFs showing how the region's borders change when viewed from various countries. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as a section of Tibet, and the region is shown as part of China when viewed in China. But for viewers in India, the region is shown as a part of India. When viewed from the U.S., the region is distinct from either country.

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Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.