Mexico files a lawsuit against Google for altering the Gulf of Mexico's moniker
In an unexpected turn of events, Mexico has taken legal action against tech giant Google due to its decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" on Google Maps. According to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, a lawsuit has been filed, though the specifics of the lawsuit remain unclear.
Sheinbaum pointed out that the name change does not align with a decree issued by former U.S. President Donald Trump, which called for the name change only for the U.S. portion of the Gulf. Sheinbaum emphasized, "The U.S. government only claims the part on the U.S. continental shelf as the 'Gulf of America', not the entire Gulf, because they don't have the authority to do so."
In response to Trump's decree, Google changed the designation on its mapping service in February. Now, U.S. users see "Gulf of America," Mexican users see the traditional "Gulf of Mexico," and the rest of the world sees both names displayed. This approach, as reported by Google, is a common practice for disputed place names.
Last Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill to officially adopt the name change. However, the bill's passage in the Senate seems unlikely, given it requires Democratic votes. If the bill does pass, it instructs U.S. federal agencies to reflect the name change in their official documents and maps.
Sources: ntv.de, AFP
Breaking Down the Gulf of Mexico Name Change
- U.S. Legal Authority: The executive order issued by Trump grants authority to U.S. federal agencies to use the term "Gulf of America" in their official communications and documents. However, the order has no binding effect on non-federal agencies, private companies, foreign governments, or international bodies.
- Mexican Objection: Mexico objects to the name change due to its historical and cultural significance, perceiving the unilateral decision as a dismissal of Mexican sovereignty and heritage. Additionally, there are geopolitical and diplomatic concerns, as the move can be interpreted as an assertion of U.S. dominance over a shared international water body.
- International Context: The Gulf of Mexico naming dispute mirrors ongoing debates over geographical naming controversies, like the Persian Gulf–Arabian Gulf dispute and the Denali–Mount McKinley renaming.
This dispute adds to a pattern of geographical naming controversies, revealing complex questions about sovereignty, national identity, and international law. With Google and Mexico at odds over the Gulf of Mexico designation, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold.
- The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in the context of the ongoing Gulf of Mexico name change dispute.
- In a twist of politics and policy-and-legislation, the Gulf of Mexico name change issue was discussed briefly in the general news section of Sue's WhatsApp group on Thursday, sparking heated debates among its members.
- As the war-and-conflicts in some areas of the world intensify, the ongoing name change dispute in the Gulf of Mexico now stands out as a symbol of a peaceful yet complex diplomatic issue.
- In response to Mexico's legal action, the European Union's Commissioner for Designations, Maroš Šefčovič, has expressed support for the traditional name of the Gulf of Mexico, condemning any unilateral changes to established geographical designations.
- Meanwhile, opinion polls across North America show mixed sentiments towards the name change, with a close majority of respondents in the U.S. supporting the proposed change, while a resounding majority of Mexican participants oppose it, creating a fascinating study of public opinion in the face of international policy-and-legislation.
