Google Earth Nano Banana Trend: What Can Influencers Post?

On 30 July 2026 Google added its Nano Banana 2 image model to the web version of Google Earth, and one day later, on 31 July, it pulled the feature. The reason was that some users were generating and sharing satellite-style images that showed events that never happened at real locations. So for influencers the real question is not "how do I join the trend?" but which rules apply when you alter an image of a real place with AI and share it.

The short answer: you may use Google Earth imagery in an educational or entertainment video without asking permission, as long as you give attribution; you may not use it for commercial or promotional purposes, and if you have significantly altered the imagery you must clearly state that it is a simulation or fiction.

What did the Nano Banana feature in Google Earth do?

According to Google's announcement, users could zoom in on a location in the web version of Google Earth, choose the option to create an image and type what they wanted to see. Nano Banana 2 then generated a new image based on Google Earth's satellite, aerial and 3D imagery. The uses Google suggested included bringing historic sites back to how they once looked, making an infographic about a place, visualizing real estate and construction projects, and creative transformations.

Google stated that generated images were watermarked as AI-made and were not shown to other users in the main Google Earth experience.

Why was the feature pulled after one day?

In a note added to its announcement on 31 July, Google wrote that professionals in the geospatial field had used the feature in helpful ways, but that some users had shared screenshots of images that appeared to violate its policies. The company said it was rolling the feature back while it worked on stronger safeguards.

According to Engadget's report, the problem was that the tool could produce events that never happened, such as blast craters at real locations, with the credibility of a satellite image. A watermark existed, but most people who share or see an image do not check for it. Google gave no date for a relaunch; if you plan to use the feature, check Google Earth's current status yourself.

There is an important lesson here for influencers: people place a lot of trust in maps and satellite imagery. An altered image of a real place, shared without explanation, can circulate as misinformation, and the responsibility falls on the account that posted it as well.

Can I use Google Earth imagery in my content?

The usage guidelines Google publishes for Maps and Earth content (the Geo Guidelines) largely answer this question:

• Educational and entertainment videos: If you use Google Earth content in a video on a platform such as YouTube that is primarily educational, instructional, entertainment or hobby oriented, you do not need to ask permission, even if the video is monetized.
• Commercial and promotional use: Google Earth content may not be used for commercial or promotional purposes. The guidelines explicitly list advertising, promotional videos and commercials.
• Altered imagery: You may not significantly alter Google Earth imagery without clearly stating that it is a simulation, projection or fiction.
• Attribution: Attribution to Google and, where applicable, its data providers must appear legibly near the imagery. The example format in the guidelines is "Map data: Google, Maxar Technologies".

These rules still apply when you take Earth imagery and edit it in another AI tool; the fact that the source is Google Earth is what determines the rules.

What changes in sponsored content?

If you are in a paid partnership with a brand, the content is promotional. Under Google's guidelines you therefore cannot use Google Earth imagery. A sponsored post such as "a scene that zooms from a satellite view of the city into the brand's store and transforms with AI" breaks the rules for as long as it uses Earth imagery.

If you publish for an audience in Turkey, the Turkish Ministry of Trade's guidelines for social media influencers also apply. Under the amendment to Turkey's Commercial Advertising and Unfair Commercial Practices Regulation that took effect on 1 August 2026 (Article 23/A), ads made through influencers must carry either "Reklam" (advertisement) or "Tanıtım" (promotion), together with the advertiser's name or a statement such as "provided by @[advertiser]". The same guidelines also state that if effects or filters were used in a commercial ad for a product, it must be clearly disclosed that the image was filtered. The safest approach is not to treat an AI-edited product image as an exception to that rule.

How can you use the trend safely?

Transforming places with AI is still a strong content format. To use it without running into the rules, try these approaches:

1. Use footage you shot yourself. Photographing a street, building or landscape yourself and transforming it in an AI tool takes the Earth-specific rules out of the picture, and the result can be used in sponsored content too.
2. Write "recreation" on screen. Put a line such as "AI recreation, not real footage" at the start of the video and on top of the image. Burying it in the caption is not enough; viewers may not see it while scrolling.
3. Show the real and the imagined side by side. First the place as it is today, then the recreation. This shows viewers what changed and makes the content harder to misread.
4. Stay away from sensitive subjects. Do not generate scenes on real locations that could be confused with real events such as disasters, war, accidents, protests or infrastructure damage.
5. Build an educational frame. In content like "what did this square look like 100 years ago?", cite your sources and say that the recreation is based on assumptions.
6. Watch the comments. If viewers think the recreation is real, correct it in the comments and highlight the explanation with a pinned comment. Clarifying a misunderstood post openly builds more trust than quietly deleting it, and it protects your account's reputation.

What should brands check when working with influencers?

Under the Turkish Ministry of Trade's guidelines, the advertiser is also held responsible for making sure the influencer follows the rules. Adding these points to the brief prevents problems in any collaboration that involves AI place transformations:

• The source of the imagery to be used (own footage, licensed image or a map service)
• The format and placement of the ad label
• How AI or filter use will be disclosed
• The on-screen explanation text if an altered image of a real place is shown
• A step where the brand approves the content before it goes live

If you would like support with campaign design and influencer selection, see our influencer marketing service, or contact us to discuss a specific campaign.

In short

• Nano Banana 2 was added to the web version of Google Earth on 30 July 2026 and pulled on 31 July; Google gave no return date.
• Google Earth imagery can be used with attribution in educational and entertainment content, but not in sponsored or advertising content.
• Altered Earth imagery must clearly state that it is a simulation or fiction.
• In Turkey, sponsored content also requires an ad label and disclosure of effects or filters.
• The safest route is to transform footage you shot yourself and state clearly on screen that it is a recreation.