On the afternoon of September 1st, recent media reports and user feedback claimed that when using Baidu Maps' ride-hailing service, advertisement close buttons were designed to be hidden and difficult to locate.

In response to these allegations, Baidu stated: "The screenshots shown in media reports do not match the actual online situation of Baidu Maps. We provide obvious close buttons that users can manually close at any time, and once closed, ads will not be triggered again on the same day. Regarding the screenshot issues mentioned in the reports, we are actively contacting the original media outlets and users for verification. Baidu Maps remains committed to improving user experience and providing safe, reliable, and intelligent travel assistance. If users encounter any issues while using our maps, we welcome feedback through our backend messaging system or by contacting Baidu Maps customer service center."

It is reported that besides Baidu Maps, other ride-hailing applications such as AutoNavi Maps and Didi Chuxing also display pop-up advertisements during their ride-hailing processes, with similar designs for ads and close buttons.