Mexico Sues Google Over Gulf Naming Controversy
In a bold move, the Mexican government has filed a lawsuit against Google, demanding the tech giant revert its labeling of the Gulf of Mexico to its traditional name after the U.S. government designated it as the "Gulf of America." President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the legal action during her daily briefing, highlighting that Mexico considers the new name to be an infringement on its territorial waters.
The dispute stems from actions taken by former President Donald Trump, who issued an executive order early in his term to change the body of water’s name. Trump’s administration officially adopted the new label, which is now visible in Google Maps for U.S. users while maintaining "Gulf of Mexico" for users in Mexico. Google’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Cris Turner, clarified in a letter that the company would not alter its naming policy, asserting it adheres to longstanding mapping standards uniformly across regions.
The Mexican government has previously communicated with Google, requesting it to respect the historical naming conventions. Sheinbaum criticized the continued use of "Gulf of America," arguing that it should only apply to U.S. territorial waters. Although Trump’s executive order holds scope only within the United States, it has sparked debates and discussions regarding its recognition by neighboring nations.
Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at solidifying the name change, which received strong support from Republican members. Simultaneously, the Trump administration faced backlash for restricting press access when certain media outlets refused to adopt the new nomenclature.
As tensions simmer over cultural and territorial issues, the outcome of Mexico’s lawsuit against Google will likely impact diplomatic relations and the ongoing discussions surrounding the naming rights of this vital body of water.
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