Let me start with, yes I already reported this. The two Wayspots have already been slated for removal. However, I created a separate report for the abuse and I feel this needs some attention because for these to get back onto the map within a week is disturbing.
A little while ago, I reported some abuse that was happening. There were several Wayspots on the grounds of a school, plus another one that was pinned in the middle of the street several meters away from its actual location.
I received a response saying the Wayspots and individuals had been dealt with. It appears that the message sent was not stern enough, as they’re back at it.
As you can see, the new nomination is almost in the exact same spot as the first one; this time, they’re attempting to get the soccer field in as opposed to the playground.
I suspect there’s some sort of collusion going on in this area to get these back onto the map, and if there isn’t, then there are several people who are voting that need some serious re-education.
Something I have run into that may or may not be the issue here. Waypoints removed from the game end up remaining in the nomination review/submission screens as a way for everyone to see that the waypoints already exist and would be duplicates if submitted again
When these areas are reported is it not possible to geofence then in the same way as Property Owners.
I would not suggest that mapping data is used to find and block School grounds as we all know this will get loads of “fake positives” but once it is reported as being abused block the location.
I am aware that somethings sound much easier when it’s not us that is doing it but surely as they already do it for property owners just create a property owner called “Niantic”?
Sadly I’ve seen many cases where the submitters continue with abusive submissions even after receiving a temporary ban. The best thing to do is report them again when you see it, and hopefully they will progress up the Abuse Ladder - Wayfarer Abuse Enforcement Ladder Policy — Wayfarer Help Center - until either moderating their behaviour or receiving a permaban.
I suspect public Schools (K-12) I’d think could be done in the US could be easier to geofence. Though I’m not sure if that is a feature that is done without a request. And it may be more complicated in other countries?
I think it would be more complicated for religious institutions as they have a mix of church features and schools.
Though I don’t think it’s a bad idea overall as I think it trips up a decent amount of contributors as there are sports fields and other poi’s that without being on a school would be eligible.
As per OP, where an area has been reported for having waypoints on School Grounds and Staff have looked in to it and agreed is seems counter intuitive not to block the location as more work is caused when people re nominate them and the whole process is repeated?
Unfortunately with lower lv requirement to submit, there will be many alt account to sacrifice. As long someone dedicated to make fake submission, nomination like this will continue to appear. What you can do is kept on reporting those wayspot. If those fake kept on getting removed, whoever submit them might give up.
Submitting fake is not that easy. A lot of reviewer can report during review.
It also has to be voted on which leads to the possibility of a voting ring. The advantage of Niantic staff dealing with it is that they can potentially shut down the voting ring too.
It is my experience that it’s not, but I think it might be worth having the team revisit that policy. Maybe some certain ambassadors could bring it up with the team? Hmm? lol
Oh 100%
I agree that there are situations where the school/park borders are blurred, and that would have to be taken into account. I do feel that there are situations, like this one, where the borders are very apparent.
This would have to be a policy that is very purposeful when applied, but I really think it’s worth the team at least taking a look at.
I’ve mostly been against the idea of there being an automated system in Wayfarer that looks at OSM or other zoning sources - there’s a lot of abuse potential there both in falsely un-marking a school and in marking schools as a form of retaliation. Further, to my understanding, Niantic never played nice with OSM and would just cause more stress on their system.
Wayfarer has always been about using your best judgment and even OPR was meant to have that human factor.
That said, there are many tools available that take GIS information and zoning records for areas. It might be worth more for Wayfarer to pay into a service than to take the potential backlash if these areas are ever noticed. And after seeing all the ineligible locations approved by ML, I really think something needs to happen on the backend, at least if they ever re-introduce ML approvals.
