Google Map introduces 'Gulf of America' label, prompting Mexico to propose alternatives.
Google recently announced that it will adjust the name of the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America" for users in the United States, following President Trump's executive order. However, for Mexico and other international users, the body of water will continue to be labeled as the "Gulf of Mexico." During a press conference, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her opposition to this name change, arguing that the United States does not have the legal right to alter an internationally recognized geographical feature.
Sheinbaum brought up the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which only grants a nation's sovereign territory up to 12 nautical miles off its coastline. She insists that the "Gulf of America" can only refer to the 12-mile area, but nothing beyond that. She believes that Google should not succumb to the command of a country attempting to alter the name of an international sea. "For us it is still the Gulf of Mexico, and for the entire world it is still the Gulf of Mexico," she stated.
According to reports from the BBC and New York Times, while Google has changed the name in its Geographic Names Information System, non-American users will still see "Gulf of Mexico" on their maps. The body of water continues to appear with both names side by side for international users.
In light of this controversy, Sheinbaum proposed a few name changes of her own to Google. Among them, she suggested officially recognizing "Mexican America" on maps, as it was described in an old map from 1607. Misleadingly labeled as "America Mexicana," this map referred to the land we now know as the United States. Google might not agree to this name change, but it does signal Google's willingness to comply with political demands, or rather, their long-standing policy of adapting to regional differences.
Google's choice to align with the Trump administration's executive order is not an isolated incident. The tech giant regularly shifts names and appearances according to the user's location, even adjusting borders based on the viewer. This policy gives rise to the question of who determines borders and naming conventions. More often than not, technology seems to bend to accommodate the powerful rather than setting objective standards.
Sheinbaum advocated for Google to uphold the name "Gulf of Mexico" beyond the 12-mile coastline, citing the tech company's responsibility in maintaining global technological standards. In the future, she suggested, tech companies should prioritize unbiased representation of geographical features over political demands.