Mexico Files Lawsuit Against Google Over ‘Gulf Of America’ Change On Google Maps

The Mexican president has hit back at Google and Donald Trump following the executive order action

When Donald Trump announced that the Gulf of Mexico would be renamed the ‘Gulf of America’, the internet quickly exploded with memes. But now, Mexico is pushing back and not just with jokes.On Friday, May 9, Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, revealed that her administration is officially taking legal action against Google. The tech giant had updated Google Maps to reflect the name change from the Gulf of Mexico to the ‘Gulf of America’.

According to the BBC, Mexico had made several requests asking Google not to go ahead with the change, but those appeals were apparently ignored.

Trump issued an executive order early into his second term, which began in January, instructing that the Gulf be renamed by the US Government.Speaking to the media, President Sheinbaum confirmed that her government is now pursuing a lawsuit, although she didn’t go into detail about the legal process or timeline.

“The lawsuit has already been filed.” Sheinbaum said. She kept quiet about when or where the suit had been filed but added, “All we want is for the decree issued by the US government to be complied with.”

Donald Trump signed an executive order to change the name of the Gulf Of MexicoAnna Moneymaker/Getty Images

“The US government only calls the portion of the US continental shelf the Gulf of America, not the entire gulf, because it wouldn’t have the authority to name the entire gulf.”The legal move follows an official plea from Mexico’s foreign affairs department urging Google to reconsider the renaming on its map platform.

Cris Turner, a top Google executive overseeing government affairs and public policy, had previously sent a letter to Sheinbaum regarding the matter.

Documents shared by Sheinbaum showed that Google has no intention of reversing the update. In the U.S. version of Google Maps, users now see the body of water labeled as the ‘Gulf of America’.Meanwhile, in Mexico, users still see the traditional ‘Gulf of Mexico’ label. For everyone else across the globe, Google displays both names—calling it ‘The Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)’.

Turner defended the company’s choice, saying the update reflects Google’s long-standing global map policies, which aim to be neutral and consistent regardless of region.

The Gulf of Mexico is now the Gulf of America on Google Maps for US usersGoogle Maps

The Associated Press had its White House access revoked after refusing to update its internal style guide to use the new name. Trump, so far, has ignored a court order demanding the press outlet be reinstated.As of now, Google has not issued any public response to Sheinbaum’s announcement about the legal challenge.

Google made the name change shortly after Trump signed the executive order. Despite growing criticism from Mexico, Trump has continued to support and promote the change.It’s worth noting that the executive order holds legal weight only within the United States and Mexico. Other countries are under no obligation to adopt the new name and can continue referring to it as the Gulf of Mexico if they choose.

Claudia Sheinbaum has pushed back at the actionALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images

A report from the State Department back in the 1970s outlined the boundary between the U.S. and Mexico, starting at the mouth of the Rio Grande and continuing along a defined path.Just this Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill aiming to solidify the new name in law. If approved, it would direct federal agencies to update their maps accordingly.

The bill passed with near-unanimous support from Republicans, but it’s not expected to get the 60 votes needed in the Senate to bypass the filibuster rule.

In response to Trump’s naming demands, Sheinbaum previously joked that maybe the U.S. should be renamed ‘América Mexicana’—or ‘Mexican America’.She even pointed to an 1814 document that once used that exact name, before adding with a touch of sarcasm: “That sounds nice, no?”