Shocker! 'Epstein Island' tag appears on White House phone number
What's the story
In a bizarre turn of events, the official phone number of the White House was briefly displayed as "Epstein Island" on some Android devices. The glitch was first reported by The Washington Post when its reporters tried to call the Oval Office this week. While the calls connected to the right number, an unusual label appeared instead of "White House."
Impact
Google Pixel phones affected
The glitch mainly affected Android devices, especially Google Pixel phones. iPhone users were spared from the unusual label as it didn't show any name at all. The issue was first discovered by The Washington Post's journalists while trying to get in touch with the White House about First Lady Melania Trump's recent event with a humanoid robot.
Explanation
Why did the glitch happen?
Responding to the glitch, Google confirmed it was caused by a "fake edit" in Google Maps. The information briefly appeared on the call ID feature of some Android phones. Matthew Flegal, a spokesperson for the tech giant, said that the incorrect information was due to a user-made "fake edit" in Google Maps, which was picked up by the call identification feature on certain Android devices.
Resolution
Google removes label, blocks editor
Google has since removed the incorrect information and the White House's name appears correctly on all devices now. However, calls to this number only show the phone number without any name attached. Flegal said that the edit went against Google's policies and the user who made it has been blocked from making further edits.