Mexico Challenges Google's Map Update Over Controversial Name Change
Mexico has expressed strong opposition to Google's recent decision to rename the "Gulf of Mexico" to the "Gulf of America" on its mapping services within the United States. The move has prompted Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to threaten legal action against the tech giant, asserting that such a change disregards international agreements and infringes upon Mexico's sovereignty.
President Sheinbaum emphasized that the Gulf of Mexico is a name recognized by the United Nations and is deeply rooted in historical and cultural contexts. She argued that the United States' jurisdiction extends only 22 nautical miles from its coastline, implying that unilateral renaming of international waters is beyond its legal authority. In a pointed remark, Sheinbaum suggested renaming North America to "Mexican America" to highlight the perceived absurdity of the unilateral name change.
Google's decision aligns with Executive Order 14172, issued by President Donald Trump, which mandates the renaming of certain geographic features to reflect American-centric terminology. Following this directive, major tech companies, including Google, Apple, and Microsoft, have updated their mapping services to display "Gulf of America" for users within the U.S., while retaining the original "Gulf of Mexico" designation for users in other countries.
The renaming has sparked a broader debate, with various U.S. media outlets and international bodies expressing differing views. A Marquette University poll found that 71% of respondents nationwide opposed the renaming, indicating significant public resistance to the change. Additionally, the Associated Press has maintained its use of "Gulf of Mexico," leading to tensions with the White House, which has advocated for the new terminology.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how Google and other tech companies will respond to Mexico's objections and potential legal actions. The controversy underscores the complex interplay between technology, politics, and international relations in the digital age.
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…endlos unsympathisch diese Art der Vereinnahmung geographischer Namen, Orte und Plätze… von der Regierung genau so wie von Konzernen…
BTW Microsoft has followed suit with the name change.
The US government plans to eliminate NATO.
Martin, why are all these chatbot-assisted articles that are under the umbrella “agencies” being allowed to write generate so many articles on politics on this website? It’s clearly an irresponsible use of AI.
Two enormous egos talking shite about this story of malarkey is not relevant to this site.
As an American, the gulf has always been the Gulf of Mexico. Calling it something else is like ceasing to breathe. How would Trump like it if he woke up and everyone started calling him Donald Smith because there are a lot of them.
“like ceasing to breathe”.
Yeah… alright then.
there is one name: “Gulf of Mexico”!
One you say? I say its Gulf of America.
Its whatever an American wants it to be.
Just like gender choice.
You can believe whatever lies you want, but now the name is different and I’m not even an US citizen or supporter. I am just a supporter of truth and objectivity. Throughout history, many landmarks have changed hand and thus their names.
For example, there was something called “The Ottoman Empire”, now it’s no more and in its place there are the countries of Turkey, which recently changed its name to Turkiye and lots of other countries. In place of the Roman Empire and Holy Roman Empire, a lot of other countries emerged.
What happened here is the event same as this, whether you believe it or not, it doesn’t change the truth that the name has changed. You can choose to accept reality or continue to live in your imaginary bubble, but choosing the latter, will only serve you as a detriment in the future, because normal people find it to be a turnoff and avoid delusional people, because delusion is not healthy, it’s a mental illness.
Believe what lies? No need to hyperventilate, they’re just words.
Ottmann Empire? But but but, whatabout Palestine? If I want to write a book about the middle east, what country names do I have to include to appease you?
You commenters here strive to present yourselves as intellectuals, but fail miserably, coming across more as apoplectic adolescents.
@anon, check the comment time and date
I am not replying to you, but to @sunny.
Allwynd said on February 15, 2025 at 9:19 am
anon said on February 16, 2025 at 2:04 pm
I posted literally a day before you, how can I be replying to you?
TDS on full display allwynd
@anon @Anonymous Please don’t say things like allwynd has TDS on full display or calling him an apoplectic adolescent. I think allwynd is a smart guy that watches a little too much CNN. Give him facts instead of insults so his socialist programming can be deprogrammed.
What’s going on with this website? So much political stuff.
Isn’t it awful how politics intrudes into daily life? Sorry, bub, it’s unavoidable when the world’s on fire.
@David
The world has been on fire since the beginning of time. The only reason you think it’s on fire now is because you see politics everywhere.
Jesus Christ the irony of someone acting so arrogant and not understanding how truly ignorant they are.
Maybe because big tech are getting too political and getting involved in stuff they shouldn’t be.
Some of these companies have become too big for their boots and need to be taken down a few pegs to maintain some stability.
This might not be an issue for you but who knows what is next and may be something that you feel strongly about.
It does suck that tech is becoming more political. I miss the days of cool and handy software, windows themes, tweaks etc but we have to call out things too.
it’s probably also worth mentioning that his is not an article by Martin or Ashwin either.
Martin doesn’t have full control.
I think that Trump’s government team should ask Spain about this question, indeed Spain gave its name to the Gulf of Mexico. Furthermore all the coast of the Gulf of Mexico was spanish land in the past. Just ask first!
@ McJou
Indeed! But the mindset behind the decision to rename it just does not care about Spain, history or anything else. This whole thing entirely illegitimate. Eventually the gulf will have it’s name restored everywhere and this story will disappear forever.
Now they are not owned by them, Spain used to own most of Central and South America, now they don’t. I suggest you invest your money in time machines and take the first ride possible back to the period 1600 and then all you said will be legitimate, but now in 2025, it isn’t.
Also “Gulf of America” has two meanings – it could mean “Gulf of USA” and it can also mean “Gulf of America as a continent”, I don’t know which exactly is the right one and I don’t care. It doesn’t affect my life in any way. People who care about names and labels don’t have real problems, they have first world problems – like not having a video game to play and complaining about it on the internet in hopes to receive sympathy from others in their position or not being able to find orange flower pots to go along with their red hat garden gnomes and then losing sleep over it, while in other parts of the world, people are fighting for their lives daily – living in poverty, hunger, disease, war and they absolutely don’t care about what the name of a geographical landmark is.
You do not seem to understand how much of a serious problem it is, if the flower pot and gnome colors don’t match.