Mexico Says It’s Suing Google Over ‘Gulf of America’ Renaming on Maps

“What’s in a name?” is a question Google likely wants to avoid right now. The company just got caught up in a naming tussle between the US and Mexico.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is suing Google for renaming the entirety of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America for Maps users in the US, CBS News reports.

According to Sheinbaum, “Gulf of America” should be reserved for parts of the water body corresponding to US territory, while parts belonging to Mexico should labeled as the “Gulf of Mexico.” Right now, the entire water body is called the Gulf of America in the US. In Mexico, it shows up as the Gulf of Mexico; everyone else sees Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).

(Credit: Google)

President Trump changed the name on his first day back in office via an executive order. Google and Apple said they would change it on their apps once the name appeared in the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). That happened in mid-February, at which point President Sheinbaum threatened to sue. She now says she’s making good on that threat, though we haven’t seen a copy of the suit yet.

We reached out to Google and will update this story when they respond.

Per a translated transcript of a Friday press briefing, Sheinbaum says she is fine with companies complying with US decrees, but added that the US has no “authority to name the entire Gulf because that is an international attribution.”

“The part of their territory that corresponds to them [America] can be called whatever they decide,” Sheinbaum says. “The part that corresponds to Mexico can’t be renamed. The part that corresponds to Cuba can’t be renamed, either. So, what we’re saying is, ‘Google, stick to what the United States government approved.'”

Last week, the House passed a bill to codify the new name and ask federal agencies to update their maps. Earlier this year, the Trump administration also barred Associated Press reporters from White House events after it decided to continue using “Gulf of Mexico,” while explaining Trump’s name change. A judge later ordered the administration to reinstate their access.

About Jibin Joseph

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Jibin is a tech news writer based out of Ahmedabad, India. Previously, he served as the editor of iGeeksBlog and is a self-proclaimed tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex information for a broader audience.

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