Mexico Files Lawsuit Against Google Over Gulf Name Dispute

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's government escalates its fight to restore the Gulf's historical name after repeated requests to Google to revert the designation.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced that her government is filing a lawsuit against Google for disregarding appeals to undo the controversial renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" for American users on its mapping service. Despite multiple requests for the change, she stated that Google remained unresponsive. The specific location of the lawsuit has not yet been disclosed.

The matter has gained additional traction following a vote by the Republican-led House of Representatives, which officially backed the name change for federal agencies. This shift traces its origins back to an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump on his first day in office, insisting that the U.S. "does most of the work there, and it's ours."

In response to Trump's actions, Sheinbaum emphasized that the decree pertains only to the U.S. section of the continental shelf and asserted that the ruling should not give the United States the right to rename the entire Gulf.

Back in January, Sheinbaum sent a formal letter to Google urging them to reassess the name change. By February, she escalated her stance, threatening to pursue legal options if the tech giant did not comply. Google, for its part, stated that it was adhering to a practice of updating names as per official government sources. They also clarified that, for users in Mexico, the Gulf's name would remain unchanged; however, people accessing the app from other regions would see it labelled as the "Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)."

The misnaming situation has sparked a wider debate, highlighted by tensions with media outlets. The Associated Press, which refused to adopt the "Gulf of America" name, subsequently faced restrictions from the White House regarding access to various events, leading to a federal ruling that prohibited such actions.

In related developments, Trump hinted at another potential name change regarding the Persian Gulf during an upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, suggesting it may be referred to as the Arabian Gulf. This remark drew quick backlash from Iranian officials, who dismissed it as an absurd rumor and expressed disappointment over the implications of such a change.

This naming saga reflects broader geopolitical tensions and community sentiments as countries assert their historical perspectives against changing narratives.