Tokyo : A group of Japanese doctors filed a lawsuit against Google for receiving bad reviews on the Google Maps app.
Among the 63 doctors are dentists, doctors and veterinarians who say their reviews are biased and often remain anonymous, creating a negative impression on hospital clinics that hinder patient access.
The lawsuit, filed in the Tokyo District Court, seeks 1.45 million euros (about $9,400) in compensation from Google.
Separately, each doctor claimed £23,000 for a total of £1.45m.
According to Yuuchi Nakazawa, one of the lawyers representing the lawsuit, the purpose of the lawsuit is not to make money, but to raise awareness about some problems with Google Maps.
“People often don’t understand that I do these things because I want to get rid of bad opinions about me, but that’s not the case,” said one doctor.
The chief prosecutor said the medical facility was like a “one-sided punching bag”.
“Unlike other businesses, patients do not pay for most of the treatment provided by the NHS. Therefore, we cannot accommodate patient requests – we cannot write unnecessary drug prescriptions or run necessary tests. We have to refuse those requests, but if we do, it can get a bad rating on Google Maps.
