A group of Japanese doctors has taken legal action against Google, alleging that the tech giant has allowed unverified and harmful comments to be posted on its platform. The lawsuit, filed in Tokyo District Court, demands financial compensation for 63 medical professionals who have been negatively impacted by derogatory and false reviews that were made on Google Maps, a popular app in Japan where users can rate various institutions and share personal reviews.
The doctors' legal team, led by Yuichi Nakazawa, argued that these damaging comments are often baseless and malicious, spreading misinformation that is difficult to combat. Despite complaints from the medical professionals, Google allegedly failed to address the issue adequately, leading to the decision to pursue legal action. The lawsuit emphasizes the potential dangers of relying on online reviews for crucial decisions like healthcare choices, especially in a country like Japan where internet feedback plays a significant role in shaping public opinion on services like hospitals.