A lawsuit from Mexico against Google over the Gulf of America.
May 9, 2025111 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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After the American President, Donald Trump, issued a decision in January to change the name of the "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America," American citizens found themselves facing Google Maps reflecting this new change. However, this amendment was not without repercussions on international relations, as the decision greatly angered Mexican authorities. Mexico's President, Claudia Shinbaum, filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing it of crossing the political boundaries of the United States and changing the name of a part of Mexican territorial waters. Shinbaum, speaking at a press conference, emphasized that Google must adhere to the U.S. government's guidelines regarding naming only within the boundaries of the United States, pointing out that areas of water under Mexico's and Cuba's control cannot be modified by any party, including the U.S. government. She confirmed that Mexico does not seek to change the names of places within U.S. territories such as states or mountains. Google, on the other hand, clarified in a statement that the name "Gulf of Mexico" will be changed to "Gulf of America" for users in the United States only, while the old name will remain visible to users in Mexico, with both names displayed to users in the rest of the world. At the same time, Mexican officials had previously sent messages to Google demanding a reversal of this change. Mexico argues that the new name "Gulf of America" should only be used in the part of the gulf that falls within the U.S. continental shelf, indicating a long-standing dispute over maritime boundaries in the region. It is worth noting that the "Gulf of Mexico" has carried this name for over 400 years and has been internationally recognized by the United Nations. Although Trump signed an executive order in January to change the name, this decision remains valid only within the United States and cannot be imposed on other countries or international entities.