In a controversial move, Google has announced it will rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on its Maps platform within the United States. This decision follows an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump shortly after his inauguration. The change will see the Gulf retain its original name in Mexico while users outside of the US and Mexico will see both names displayed.
Google explained that its practice of updating geographical names aligns with changes made by official government entities. The tech giant stated, “When official names vary between countries, Maps users see their official local name. Everyone in the rest of the world sees both names.”
In addition to the renaming of the gulf, the order also includes a modification of Alaska’s Denali peak to be referred to as Mount McKinley in the US, reflecting Trump’s commitment to fulfill a campaign promise.
This renaming decision has sparked reactions, including a humorous suggestion from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who proposed renaming North America to “América Mexicana” in light of the changes.
Trump, in support of the new name, remarked that “Gulf of America” has a “beautiful ring” to it, indicating his belief that the shift is appropriate in the context of immigration issues.
Google’s naming conventions have historically been sensitive to local and international disputes, as seen in its handling of the body of water between Japan and South Korea, which is labeled as the “Sea of Japan (East Sea)” outside of both countries.
As discussions around geographical naming continue, the implications of such changes reflect deeper political and cultural narratives.
This report is brought to you by Newspot Nigeria.
Source: The Guardian
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