Google Maps Renames Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America, But Mexico Protests

What’s Happening

Google Maps recently announced that it will rename the "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America" on its service, following an order from President Donald Trump. The change will be visible to users in the US, where the ocean basin will be displayed as the Gulf of America, while users in Mexico will still see it as the Gulf of Mexico. Outside of these two countries, both names will be displayed for the area.

Mexico Protests the Change

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has now spoken out against the change, saying that the US cannot legally rename the Gulf of Mexico. According to a United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a country’s sovereignty only extends up to 12 nautical miles from its coastline. This means that the US cannot rename the area without Mexico’s consent.

International Law and the Gulf of Mexico

The Mexican government has pointed out that the Gulf of Mexico is a body of water that lies between Mexico and the US, and as such, both countries have a shared interest in its naming. The US cannot unilaterally change the name of the Gulf without consulting with Mexico and respecting international law.

Google’s Position

Google has defended its decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico, saying that it typically follows official country directives when updating place names. However, this decision has been met with criticism from users who feel that the company is too quick to take orders from the US government.

What’s Next?

The controversy has sparked a debate about the role of technology companies in international affairs and the importance of respecting international law. The Mexican government has urged Google to prominently display the map of Mexican America, and it remains to be seen whether the company will take this request seriously.

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[Image: Google Maps stock photo 6]