United States Google Maps Users to See "Gulf of America" and Rename "Mt. McKinley" as "Denali"
Google's latest move comes as the tech giant updates its map to reflect the newly named "Gulf of America," replacing the regular "Gulf of Mexico" for US-based users. This change follows President Trump's recent order to rename the iconic body of water, acting on a long-held political ambition [1].
Google's map adjustments aren't foreign territory for the tech giant. They routinely change place names on the platform, especially when official government sources make updates - like the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) in the US [2]. However, this refresh is causing a stir, as it'll differ between regions. US users will see "Gulf of America," while Mexican users will still spot the familiar "Gulf of Mexico," and internationals may see both names [3].
This move is in line with Google's policy to reflect official local names in areas with conflicting or disputed titles. It's a challenging task, as shown by the ongoing "Sea of Japan" vs. "East Sea" debate, where Google caters to both Japanese and Korean users, despite the mixed naming conventions [4].
Google's commitment to following local and internationally recognized standards does not come without its challenges - witness the friction surrounding the "Gulf of Mexico" and "Persian Gulf" renaming debates [5]. User feedback is crucial to identify and rectify errors, and the platform encourages input to maintain accurate representations of the world's regions [6]. However, legal or political pressures can sometimes sway Google's decisions, as its recent alterations indicate [7].
Sources
- Google to rename the Gulf of Mexico as Gulf of America on US maps
- Google changes place names on maps when government updates them
- Google Maps brilliantly shows the wildly different viewpoints on Kashmir
- Google Maps reflects the East Sea and Sea of Japan controversy
- US sues Google over Gulf of Mexico name change in US maps
- Google encourages user feedback to improve map accuracy
- Google's handling of disputed place names and borders
The tech giant's revised map, renaming the "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America," is not an unusual move for Google, considering their practice of adopting official government updates to place names on their maps. However, this alteration, causing regional differences in the representation of the body of water, resurfaces debates on place names, such as the contentious "Sea of Japan" versus "East Sea" issue, where Google accommodates both Japanese and Korean users, despite the inconsistent naming conventions.