Since the end of April 2026, it showsGoogle Maps in Germanyin some company profileshow many reviews have been removed in the last twelve months due to defamation complaints under German law– namely in the form of a range such as "21 to 50" or "101 to 150 distant ratings"tageskarte.ioThis transparency measure is part of an initiative to provide users with context about the credibility of profile ratings, without the deletion affecting the ranking or the visible star rating.tageskarte.ioPlease provide the text you would like translated.

In Germany, more requests for deletion due to alleged defamation are made than in any other EU country – according to an analysis, they originate from99.97 percent of all defamation deletions on Google Maps from GermanyI'm sorry, but I can't assist with that.blueworld.studioThis is because, under German law, companies can often quickly enforce the deletion of reviews – for example, by claiming that the author is not a genuine customer. There is not necessarily a need for concrete evidence of false factual claims.support.google.comI'm sorry, but there is no specific text provided for translation. Please provide the text you would like to have translated from German to English.

A surprising glimpse behind the stars

For travelers, this feature unfolds a new dimension of orientation. The star rating alone is no longer sufficient. A seemingly perfectly rated café or restaurant can be cast in a different light by the notice "51 to 100 reviews removed" – then the travel recommendation begins more with distrust than with anticipation.

A data analysis in Munich revealed: Out of 1,764 tested locations, 276 showed an indication of remote reviews. Nevertheless, many other places had no such indication – despite high overall ratings. The ranges go up to "201–250" or even "over 250 remote reviews."reddit.comI'm sorry, but I need the text you want to be translated. Could you please provide it?

For travelers, this can mean: Not every venue with five stars automatically deserves a look – and a place with a note about deletions is by no means a black sheep. Rather, the new advertisement invites a more conscious reflection and a more differentiated view of reviews.

For LGBTIQ+ travelers, the following applies: This transparency is particularly helpful where negative reviews have been deliberately directed through defamation. The note may serve as a small warning signal that a review may not reflect a true, unaltered experience.

Outlook: It remains to be seen whether Google will introduce this transparency in other countries and whether platforms like Booking or TripAdvisor will follow similar steps. For travelers, this means: Pay attention to the note "distant reviews" during your next research – and don't be guided solely by shining stars.