Mexican President’s Legal Battle Against Google over Gulf of America
Introduction
The body of water between Mexico and Florida, traditionally known as the Gulf of Mexico, became the center of a dispute between Mexico and the United States. On his first day in office, former U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming the gulf to the "Gulf of America." This unilateral action sparked outrage in Mexico, leading its president, Claudia Sheinbaum, to threaten legal action against Google for adopting the new name in its maps.
Mexico’s Legal Arguments
In a press conference, President Sheinbaum reiterated her intention to pursue legal action against Google, emphasizing that maritime zones under U.S. sovereignty extend only 12 nautical miles from the coast. She accused Google of overreaching its authority by altering the name of the body of water.
Sheinbaum stated, "Renaming the gulf overreaches the power of any national authority or private entity. And, in this case, Mexico’s government will proceed to exercise the actions that it deems appropriate according to the law."
Google’s Response
Google previously stated that it has a policy of updating names in its maps according to official government sources. However, it did not respond to USA TODAY’s inquiry regarding President Sheinbaum’s latest letter.
Trump’s Executive Order and Wider Implications
Trump’s executive order not only renamed the Gulf of Mexico but also reversed an Obama-era name change of Denali, an Alaskan mountain, back to Mount McKinley. Additionally, during a flight over the body of water en route to the Super Bowl, he proclaimed Feb. 9 as "Gulf of America Day."
The process of changing a geographic name typically involves consultation with various stakeholders and can take up to six months. However, Trump’s order was swiftly implemented in Google maps, Apple maps, the National Weather Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
International Perspective
Depending on their geographic location, Google Maps users may see both the original "Gulf of Mexico" and the new "Gulf of America" names on the map. This approach has been used by Google in other instances when official names vary across countries.
Conclusion
The dispute over the Gulf of America highlights the complex nature of geographic naming conventions and the role of technology companies in shaping our understanding of the world. Mexico’s legal challenge against Google underscores its determination to protect its sovereignty and heritage, while Google’s policy of following official government sources raises questions about the accuracy and objectivity of digital representations of reality. The outcome of this legal battle will have implications for the relationship between governments, technology giants, and the public’s access to accurate geographical information.
