Google Maps has updated its app to display the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America for users in the United States. This change follows President Donald Trump’s executive order to rename the body of water in US government documents.
According to Google, the change is part of their longstanding practice of following name changes updated by official government sources. However, the name change will not apply to users in Mexico, who will continue to see the traditional name, Gulf of Mexico.
Users elsewhere in the world will see a dual designation: “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)”. This change has sparked controversy, with Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum expressing opposition to the name change.
She argued that the US has no legal right to rename the Gulf, citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This convention states that a country’s sovereign territory extends only up to 12 nautical miles out from the coastline.
Furthermore, Trump’s executive order has been met with criticism from various groups. They argue that the name change is unnecessary and may cause confusion.
In addition, the Geographic Names Information System, a US government database, listed the update to the Gulf’s name on Monday. The listing describes the Gulf of America as a major body of water bordered by North America.
Moreover, Trump’s executive order aims to “restore names that honor American Greatness”. However, the effectiveness of this order is still being debated.
The Google Maps Gulf of America update reflects the controversy surrounding the name change. The Google Maps Gulf of America update has sparked a wider conversation about the importance of accurate naming conventions.
