Mexico Takes Google to Court Over "Gulf of America" Name Change
Mexico files lawsuit against Google over "Golf of America" issue
Wanting the historical moniker "Gulf of Mexico" back on Google Maps for U.S. users, Mexico has initiated a lawsuit against tech behemoth Google. This legal action arises from Google's decision to rebrand the entire body of water as the "Gulf of America," which exceeds the boundaries of a decree issued by former U.S. President Donald Trump. As of yet, Google has remained silent on the matter.
Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican President, stated that they simply want the U.S. government's decree followed. The Gulf borders not only U.S. states like Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida but also Mexico and Cuba. Trump's order applies only to the area up to the maritime borders of Mexico and Cuba. U.S. Google Maps users currently observe the waterway labeled as the "Gulf of America," while other viewers can see both names. Before the lawsuit, the Mexican government wrote to Google, requesting the preservation of the historical name for the non-U.S. part of the Gulf.
In February, Sheinbaum had already threatened to sue if Google persisted with the extensive name change. The name "Gulf of Mexico" has enjoyed usage since the 16th century.
Insights into the Controversy
- Google's policy is to use the term "Gulf of America" within the U.S. area and "Gulf of Mexico" elsewhere [1][2].
- The Mexican Foreign Relations Ministry urged Google not to make the change, asserting that it should only apply to the Gulf's section over the U.S. continental shelf [2].
[1] ntv.de[2] hul/dpa
- The Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum, had previously threatened to sue Google over its plan to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, stating that they will continue to pursue legal action if Google does not reconsider the extensive name change.
- The Commission, which was consulted on the draft directive about the gulf's renaming, has criticized Google's decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, arguing that it conflicts with historical usage and international political norms.
- In general news and political discussions, the ongoing controversy over Google's decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America has received substantial attention, with many commentators expressing concerns about the tech company's authority to rename a natural geographical feature.
- On Whatsapp groups and social media platforms, there have been lively debates about Google's decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, with many users supporting Mexico's efforts to preserve the historical name and criticizing Google for ignoring cultural and historical sensitivities.
