Mexico Sues Google Over “Gulf of America” Map Change

Mexico has initiated legal action against Google following the tech giant’s decision to label the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” for users within the United States. The change, seemingly influenced by a prior executive order from former U.S. President Donald Trump, has sparked controversy and led to the lawsuit filed by the Mexican government.

President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the lawsuit, emphasizing Mexico’s stance that the “Gulf of America” designation should only apply to the portion of the gulf situated above the United States’ continental shelf. The dispute highlights the long-standing historical name, “Gulf of Mexico,” which has been in use for over four centuries.

Prior to the lawsuit, Mexico’s foreign ministry communicated its concerns to Google, urging them to avoid renaming Mexican territorial waters. Cris Turner, Google’s VP of government affairs, responded, stating that the company was applying its mapping policies “impartially and consistently.” As of now, Google Maps displays the body of water as “Gulf of America” within the U.S., “Gulf of Mexico” within Mexico, and “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)” in other regions.

This legal challenge follows previous tensions between the Trump administration and the Associated Press (AP) regarding the name. The White House had restricted the AP’s access to presidential events after the news organization refused to adopt the “Gulf of America” terminology. A federal judge later ruled in favor of the AP, affirming that the government cannot punish news organizations based on their speech content.

The outcome of Mexico’s lawsuit against Google remains to be seen, but it underscores the complexities of international relations and the power of digital mapping in shaping perceptions and asserting sovereignty.

Keywords: Mexico, Google, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of America, Donald Trump, Claudia Sheinbaum, Lawsuit, Maps, International Relations