Mexico filed a lawsuit against Google after the tech giant controversially changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” on U.S.-based Google Maps. The decision reportedly followed former President Donald Trump’s executive order to rename specific geographic locations in the United States.
While the order did not legally bind private companies, Google rolled out the change for users in the U.S., sparking international backlash. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has confirmed that a formal lawsuit is in progress, though she’s kept the specific legal strategy under wraps, according to MSNBC.
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Google’s Response After Mexico Files Lawsuit Over Gulf of America Name
Google has stated that the name change is only visible for users located in the United States. For everyone else globally, both “Gulf of Mexico” and “Gulf of America” may appear interchangeably.
The company said in a statement:
“We aim to reflect regional naming differences in our products and follow local naming policies where applicable. This update only impacts U.S.-based users at this time.”
Many argue that allowing an executive order to influence global map data—especially for a region as historically and geographically defined as the Gulf of Mexico—is a step too far. The Mexican government calls it an insult, citing that the region is not just a U.S. territory but a shared space bordered by multiple countries.
A bill to permanently change the “Gulf of America” name passed the House on Thursday. However, it’s unlikely to gain traction in the Senate.
