Mexican President Disputes Google's Gulf of Mexico Name Change

Google Maps and the Renaming of the Gulf of Mexico

Google Maps is preparing to implement changes aligning with an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump. This involves renaming several U.S. landmarks, most notably changing the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

However, this decision has prompted a response from Mexico. President Claudia Sheinbaum announced during a press conference on Wednesday that a formal letter will be dispatched to Google.

Mexico's Response

The letter will question Google’s rationale for adopting the name change for the body of water. Mexico seeks clarification regarding the implications of this update.

Google's Stated Policy

Earlier this week, Google explained its position on the social media platform X. The company stated it consistently reflects name alterations when these are officially documented in government records.

According to Google, its policy dictates that when official names differ across nations, Google Maps users will be presented with the officially recognized name within their respective country.

Users located in other regions will have the benefit of viewing both the original and updated names, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the naming conventions.

This approach aims to balance adherence to official governmental designations with the needs of a global user base.