Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesian netizens have launched a wave of one-star reviews targeting the Amazon Rainforest location on Google Maps, in what appears to be a coordinated online protest.
The move comes in response to a similar barrage of negative ratings aimed at Mount Rinjani in Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province by Brazilian users.
The rating wars, a trend that has gained traction over the past few days, stems from the tragic incident involving Juliana Marins. The 27-year-old Brazilian hiker fell to her death on Mount Rinjani on June 21, 2025.
The rescue operation, which took several days, drew criticism from Brazilian social media users, who accused Indonesian authorities of acting too slowly.
Meanwhile, it is already explained by the rescue team that the area where the accident occurred is known for its extreme conditions, steep cliffs, thick fog, and rugged paths, making rescue efforts especially difficult.
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Refusing to stay silent, some Indonesian netizens hit back by flocking to the Amazon Rainforest Google Maps page and leaving one-star reviews. Indonesian users began leaving sarcastic and humorous one-star reviews on the Amazon Rainforest’s Google Maps listing.
Despite the influx of negative reviews, the Amazon Rainforest’s listing still holds an overall rating over 4.0 based on over 12,500 reviews.
This back-and-forth rating war highlights how digital platforms like Google Maps are increasingly being used as venues for international protest, beyond the traditional arenas of social media like X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram.
While some viewed the Indonesian response as a spontaneous act of digital nationalism, others criticized it as an unproductive move that could damage the reputations of major natural landmarks in both countries.
Observers warn that the rating left on the platform after the war can distort public perception and potentially harm tourism, despite the locations having little to do with the root cause of the dispute.
(Raidi/Agung)
