Map features in Snapchat and other popular mobile apps, including The Weather Channel and Citi Bike, referred to New York City as “Jewtropolis” on Thursday in what appears to have been an anti-Semitic act of digital vandalism.
Each of the affected apps uses mapping company Mapbox for their mapping features. Mapbox in turn relies partially on user-generated information, apparently opening the door to such attacks.
“Snap Map relies on third party mapping data which has unfortunately been subject to vandalism,” Snapchat said in a tweet Thursday. “We are working with our partner Mapbox to get this fixed immediately.” Mapbox also provides mapping data and services to companies like Uber, Foursquare, and Instacart.
W.H.O. Middle Eastern Division does not list Israel among other Middle Eastern nations such as Egypt, Syria, and Jordan but does list the country of, Occupied Palestinian Terrority.