That is EXACTLY the issue.

You’re not wrong, but I’d really like to pretend that you are.

Yeah people like to downvote things that they don’t agree with even if it’s a decent point.

Oh well, at least I don’t base my self-worth on internet points. 😝

Why put ads on a new venue that may reach users that don’t use Google maps?

Even if that ad is less effective, it’s still going to have some effectiveness

I’m an avid user of OSM and OsmAnd, I’m with you there

Well apparently they ask for directions to your destination and 5 random others so that it’s not trackable server side.

I haven’t investigated myself and that’s not entirely fool proof, but it’s leagues better than Google for privacy.

Yep, I can agree with that. Not ideal

Apple actually integrates several “anti tracking” technologies into their maps, so it IS an improvement in theory.

Yes, that’s not great, so ideally there’s an asterisk showing this…

But if you look at the playing field as out exists today in advertising….

It’s not really useable to change political beliefs or support authoritarianism.

It’s not tracking you explicitly.

It’s not profiling you.

It’s relevant to what you’re already looking for

There aren’t many scams you can run with it (except the locksmith scam)

Soooooo, if I have to accept advertising, this feels on the tamer end.

But I agree, it should be upfront.

So I don’t actually mind this.

And odds are good you won’t notice them.

They’ll just be carefully highlighted locations when you’re looking at a larger map, so the random buildings that get labeled in the more zoomed out views are chosen carefully.

It gets better, when you search for “restaurants near me” the order won’t be organic but “pay to win”

So “restaurant chain #5” will be at the top even if you hate their food.

Not really awful as far as advertising goes.