Mexico has officially sued Google for neglecting requests to revert the name change from Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America on its maps. This legal challenge comes after U.S. legislative actions and an executive order from former President Trump asserted the new designation.
Legal Battle Erupts as Mexico Takes Google to Court Over Gulf of America Name
Legal Battle Erupts as Mexico Takes Google to Court Over Gulf of America Name
President Claudia Sheinbaum files lawsuit against Google for altering the Gulf of Mexico's name on maps, igniting a transnational dispute.
In a provocative move regarding geographical naming conventions, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has stepped up her campaign against Google by filing a lawsuit in response to the tech giant's alteration of the Gulf of Mexico's designation to the Gulf of America on its mapping service for U.S. users. Sheinbaum's administration claims repeated entreaties to reconsider this contentious name change have been disregarded.
The specific jurisdiction of the lawsuit remains undisclosed. In the backdrop, a recent vote by the Republican-dominated House of Representatives officially favored the renaming, a split from longstanding international recognition of the Gulf. The name change traces back to an executive order signed by former U.S. President Donald Trump on his first day in office, asserting that the United States should have primary claim over the Gulf due to its extensive activities in the region.
Sheinbaum staunchly argues that the U.S.'s jurisdiction over its portion of the continental shelf does not grant it the authority to rename the entire Gulf. "All we ask is for the U.S. decree to be adhered to without imposing further implications," she stated, insisting its official status shouldn’t encompass the views of other nations.
Back in January, Sheinbaum reached out formally to Google asking for a revision, followed by a warning of potential legal repercussions in February after no action was taken. Google claimed the renaming aligned with government naming practices but noted that users in Mexico would still see "Gulf of Mexico" while U.S. users encounter the revised "Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico)".
Tensions escalated further as noted news agency the Associated Press (AP) faced restrictions imposed by the White House due to its resistance to the Gulf of America designation, culminating in a federal court's ruling against such actions. Meanwhile, Trump hinted at further changes in naming conventions, suggesting a potential shift in U.S. parlance regarding the Persian Gulf during an upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, a proposal met with vehement dismissal from Iranian officials.
As this legal confrontation unfolds, the implications stretch beyond mere semantics, touching on national pride, historical acknowledgment, and international relations. The world watches closely as Mexico seeks to reclaim what it views as an essential aspect of its identity within the global cartography.
