Mexico Threatens Legal Action Over Google's Gulf Renaming

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2 days ago

Above: The image shows the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America) on Google Maps on a phone, taken on Feb. 12, 2025. Image copyright: Jakub Porzycki/Contributor/NurPhoto via Getty Imagesstory last updated 2 days ago

The Facts

Mexican Pres. Claudia Sheinbaum threatened legal action against Google on Monday over a dispute about the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico on Google Maps.
Following an executive order issued by US Pres. Donald Trump, Google Maps now displays the Gulf of Mexico as "Gulf of America" for US users, while showing "Gulf of Mexico" in Mexico and both names internationally.
The historical name "Gulf of Mexico" dates back to 1607 and is officially recognized by the United Nations, with Mexico controlling 49% of the waters, the US 46%, and Cuba approximately 5%.

The Spin

Narrative A

The unilateral renaming of the Gulf violates international maritime law and Mexican sovereignty, as no single country has the authority to rename shared waters. The historical name dating back to 1607 must be preserved, and Google's compliance with Trump's executive order sets a dangerous precedent for territorial integrity.

Al Jazeera

Narrative B

Google is following its established policy of reflecting official government designations in its mapping service while maintaining regional variations. The company's approach represents a balanced solution that respects both US government policy and international perspectives, while remaining consistent with its global mapping standards.

Google