Google Renames the Gulf of Mexico, Mexican President Threatens Lawsuit | WPN World People News

On February 10, American tech giant Google announced that, in response to an executive order recently signed by U.S. President Donald Trump, it had renamed the Gulf of Mexico on Google Maps to the Gulf of America.

This change was made through the U.S. Geographic Names System (GNIS), with the name displayed on Google Maps depending on the user's location. When used in the U.S., the map will show "Gulf of America," while in Mexico, it will still show "Gulf of Mexico." In other regions, both names will be displayed.

The announcement sparked strong opposition from Mexican authorities, who sent an open letter to Google's CEO Sundar Pichai, demanding a correction to the incorrect labeling on Google Maps. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated on February 13 that if Google persists with the name change, Mexican authorities would not rule out filing a civil lawsuit against the company.

Sheinbaum also emphasized that the Gulf of Mexico, which lies between Mexico and the southeastern United States, has been known by this name since 1607 and has long been recognized globally, including by the United Nations. She referred to the region as "Mexican America" in reference to the "Constitución de Apatzingán," a predecessor to Mexico’s first constitution, to mock Trump, stressing that changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico would have international implications.