Mexico Takes Google to Court Over Gulf of Mexico Renaming Controversy
Mexico Files Lawsuit Against Google for Altering Gulf of Mexico Designation
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In a recent development, Mexico has taken Google to court following the tech giant's decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" on its Google Maps service. This legal action was confirmed by Mexico's President, Claudia Sheinbaum, on May 9, 2025.
Sheinbaum called out Google to adhere to the wording of a decree issued by former US President, Donald Trump, which initiated the name change in January. According to Sheinbaum, Trump's order only applied to the US continental shelf. In her argument, the US government only has the authority to call the part on the US continental shelf the "Gulf of America," not the entire Gulf.
The lawsuit was filed after Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet, initiated the name change in its mapping service in February. US customers now see the label "Gulf of America," Mexican customers still see "Gulf of Mexico," and customers in the rest of the world see both labels. According to Google, this practice is common for disputed place names.
The US House of Representatives approved a bill for the name change in the previous week. However, it is doubtful whether the bill will pass the Senate, as Democratic votes will be needed there. The bill instructs US federal agencies to adjust their documents and maps according to the name change.
Back in January, Mexico had warned Google through official communications to retract the name change, emphasizing respect for Mexican territorial waters and sovereignty in the region.
Mexico's lawsuit is an escalation of the ongoing dispute between the two nations over the name of the Gulf of Mexico. As of now, there's no resolution or court decision in sight.
[1] Respecting territorial waters and sovereignty in the Gulf of Mexico[2] The Gulf of Mexico renaming controversy[3] Legal action against Google for Gulf of Mexico renaming
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 midst of the Gulf of Mexico renaming controversy. Sue, a concerned worker in the politics and policy-and-legislation sector, started a WhatsApp group to discuss the issue and rally support on Thursday. Despite the general news about Mexico taking Google to court, many workers remain unaware of the potential hazards they face in their jobs. Labels like 'Gulf of Mexico' and 'Gulf of America' may seem benign, but they can have profound implications for the safety and well-being of those who work near ionizing radiation.
