Does Google notify the reviewer of a removal?

Sometimes. Google’s help page on removed content says a contributor “may be informed” when their content is removed or rejected for a policy violation. Google says that in most cases it also tells them three things: what was removed, why it was removed, and what they can do next. So a reviewer can learn which review came down and which part of the Maps user-generated content policy it broke.

The review disappears from your Business Profile, but the reviewer may still see it. On their own Google Maps profile, Google says removed content may stay visible to them marked “Not posted”, “Private”, “Not Accepted” or similar. In some cases Google deletes it entirely, because of legal requirements or a severe violation. What the public sees is covered in is removed content deleted or hidden.

The three items Google lists do not include who reported the review. Google’s page on reporting reviews from a Business Profile does not say the reviewer is told about a report either. A review can also come down with no report from the business, because Google’s own systems remove reviews too (why Google reviews disappear).

Google lets the reviewer edit and repost the review, or appeal. Its appeals page says a content removal “can only be appealed once”, and the reviewer tracks the appeal on their Maps profile. If Google finds it removed the review in error, it restores the review. If the reviewer edits or deletes the review after appealing, the appeal is canceled. Repeated or severe violations can restrict the reviewer’s account, and Google may then remove other content from that account. The business side has its own single appeal, explained in Google review appeal statuses.

We do not contact the reviewer, and we never ask Google who they are (why we never contact reviewers). We screenshot each review before work starts, and when one comes down we email you the review and that screenshot. If a removed review comes back, for example after the reviewer’s appeal, we file it again at no charge and never bill twice for the same review (can removed content come back).