MEXICO CITY – The nation of Mexico has taken legal action against the technology company Google due to its depiction of the Gulf of Mexico being labeled as the Gulf of America. This naming decision traces back to an executive order signed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, according to an announcement made on Friday by Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum.
During a routine press briefing, President Sheinbaum confirmed that the lawsuit had been filed against Google. However, further specifics about the lawsuit were not disclosed. This legal move follows previous attempts by the Mexican government’s Foreign Relations ministry, which had already sent formal communications to Google, requesting that it refrain from altering the name of the waters that lie within Mexico’s territory as the Gulf of America.
Currently, Google has yet to issue a response to inquiries regarding the lawsuit. The naming controversy revolves around a significant body of water that lies between the U.S. and Mexico. Although Trump’s executive order can only be enforced within the United States, Mexico, along with various other nations and international entities, is not obligated to acknowledge the proposed renaming.
Mexico maintains that the term “Gulf of America” should only be applicable to areas of the gulf within the U.S. continental shelf. Back in February, President Sheinbaum disclosed a correspondence from Cris Turner, Google’s Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy, indicating that Google had no immediate intention to revise its stance following Trump’s declaration, which identified the area as the Gulf of America.
At present, Google Maps reflects this naming division by showing the area as the Gulf of America within U.S. borders, the Gulf of Mexico within Mexico, and a hybrid name elsewhere. Turner’s letter articulated that Google’s naming conventions are part of an effort to apply its longstanding mapping policies impartially and consistently around the globe.
It is essential to note that the name “Gulf of Mexico” has been in use for over four hundred years. While acknowledging President Trump’s proposed naming changes, news outlets like The Associated Press continue to use the original name. In retaliation for differing on the naming issue, the White House once restricted the AP’s access to cover Donald Trump at the White House and onboard Air Force One. This was intermittently lifted for some events.
A lawsuit was filed by the AP against three Trump administration officials based on the grounds of freedom of speech, seeking a judicial order to restore the news agency’s coverage rights. A ruling from a federal judge was recently issued, requiring the White House to reinstate full media access for the AP on First Amendment grounds, affirming that the government cannot infringe upon the press’s rights based on its reporting. The judge’s order provides preliminary relief as the broader legal challenge continues.