The decision by Google Maps to label the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" for U.S. users has triggered a legal battle, with Mexico filing a lawsuit against the tech giant. This controversy stems from an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump, shortly after taking office, to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" for federal purposes.
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has been vocal in her opposition to the name change, asserting that the U.S. decree only applies to the U.S. continental shelf and does not extend to the entire body of water shared by Mexico, the United States, and Cuba. Sheinbaum has emphasized that Mexico is not disputing the U.S.'s right to rename its portion of the gulf but insists that Google and other platforms should only apply the "Gulf of America" label to the area within U.S. territorial waters. She argues that renaming the entire gulf oversteps U.S. authority.
Google has defended its decision by stating that it follows official government naming conventions and consults multiple authoritative sources to ensure accurate representation. The company's policy is to reflect name changes from official government sources, such as the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). As a result, U.S. users see "Gulf of America" on Google Maps, while Mexican users see "Gulf of Mexico," and users in other parts of the world may see both names.
The Mexican government argues that Google's actions violate international maritime law and exceed the authority of any national government or private entity. Sheinbaum has sent letters to Google, urging the company to reverse the name change and warning of potential legal consequences if it does not comply. In response to the situation, Sheinbaum jokingly suggested that Mexico might start referring to the United States as "Mexican America," referencing pre-1848 maps from before the U.S. annexed large parts of Mexican territory.
The controversy has sparked debate about the role of technology companies in geopolitical naming disputes. Google has faced similar situations in the past, such as with the Sea of Japan/East Sea and the Persian Gulf/Arabian Gulf, where it displays different names based on the user's location. Some critics accuse Google of unnecessary politicization and cultural erasure.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to codify Trump's executive order, requiring all federal agencies to update documents and maps to reflect the "Gulf of America" name. This further escalated the dispute and solidified the U.S. government's stance on the issue.
The lawsuit filed by Mexico against Google could have broader implications for how international geographic names are handled by global tech companies. It could set a precedent for challenging digital map alterations that arise from unilateral government decisions. The outcome of the legal action remains to be seen, but it highlights the complexities and sensitivities involved in mapping disputed or contested territories.
