- Mexico could continue Google on the “Gulf of America” label on Google Maps.
- The change of label follows Trump’s executive order on January 20 to rename the Gulf of Mexico.
- The president of Mexico said that the yield only applies to the areas under the American jurisdiction, not throughout the Gulf.
Google could face a Mexico trial if it continues to show American users the “Gulf of America” label for the whole Gulf of Mexico, which touches the United States, Mexico and Cuba.
At a press conference on Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that Mexico will continue Google if the technology giant does not change the “Gulf of America” label to cover only the part of the body of water under the American jurisdiction.
She declared that the executive decree of January 20 of President Donald Trump to rename the “Gulf of Mexico” at the “Gulf of America” only concerns her own continental plateau.
“We are talking about 22 naval miles, not the whole Gulf,” said Sheinbaum, adding that Google also changes the name of the continental shelves in Mexico and Cuba.
The Mexican government has discussed this issue with Google since January. Sheinbaum shared his government’s response to Google’s last letter on its cards, affirming that in no case will Mexico accept the rename of a geographic area which includes its national territory or which is its court.
“Any reference to the” Gulf of America “initiative on your Google Maps platform must be exclusively limited to the marine zone under the American jurisdiction,” said the letter. “Any extension beyond this area goes beyond the authority of any national government or private entity. If this is the case, the government of Mexico will take the appropriate legal actions according to needs.”
Sheinbaum, who noted last week that a civil action was possible, said on Monday that the Mexican government would expect Google’s response before continuing a legal action.
Business Insider has contacted Google but has not yet received an answer.
US President Donald Trump speaking to the press next to a large card that says “Gulf of America”. Roberto Schmidt / AFP via Getty Images
On January 7, before the inauguration of his second term, Trump declared his intention to rename the Gulf. “We are going to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico in the Gulf of America,” he said. “What a beautiful name – and it’s appropriate.”
In response, Sheinbaum has noticed sarcastically that North America should be called “American Mexicana” – “Mexican America” - because a 17th century card qualified the continent as such.
Following Trump’s executive order to officially rename the water body, Google Maps and Apple Maps updated the name of the Gulf of Mexico at the “Gulf of America” for people in the United States. For users based outside the United States and Mexico, the body of water appears as “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)”.
The professor of political science at the State University of Michigan, Matthew Zierler, who studies foreign policy and international law, previously told Bi that countries did not have the power to rename an international set of water .
“Rename Denali to McKinley is for the purpose of the United States, but the Gulf of Mexico is a different problem,” he said.
In January, Sheinbaum sent a letter to Google postponing the denomination decision.
The technology company responded with a letter that Sheinbaum read aloud at the Monday press conference. The letter indicates that the “coherent policy” of the company is to “consult several sources authoritative to provide the most up to date and precise representation in the world”.
The Google letter indicated that the change from the “Gulf of Mexico” to “Gulf of America” for users based in the United States was made to reflect the update of the Information System on American Geographic Names ( Gnis). The letter also said that Google Maps users in Mexico will continue to see “Gulf of Mexico” while people elsewhere in the world will be displayed the two names.
Sheinbaum has not said if Mexico will pursue similar actions against Apple. At the time of publication, his office had not responded to a comment request.
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