Mexico threatens legal action against Google over 'Gulf of America' name change

Mexico has announced its intention to sue Google if the tech giant goes ahead with changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America" for US-based Maps users, AFP reported.

President Claudia Sheinbaum stated on Monday that her government had sent a formal letter to Google, emphasising that the renaming of the Gulf is not permissible. 

She explained that President Trump's executive order applies only to the portion of the Gulf that belongs to the United States, not to the areas under the jurisdiction of Mexico and Cuba.

Sheinbaum asserted that Google does not have the authority to rename parts of the continental shelf belonging to Mexico or Cuba, as the Gulf of Mexico is a shared body of water among the three countries. 

Mexico’s letter to Google firmly declared that the country will not accept any changes to the names of geographic areas within its national borders. The government warned that if the issue is not resolved, it will take legal action.

The dispute stems from a January executive order signed by former President Donald Trump, which led to the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico in US maps. 

In response, Sheinbaum humorously suggested that the United States could be renamed "Mexican America," referencing a historical map from before the 1848 Mexican-American War.

Google, part of Alphabet, assured that in Mexico, the name "Gulf of Mexico" would remain unchanged, while users in other countries would see both names. 

The company explained that its naming practices are based on authoritative government sources and that they are open to a dialogue on the matter. 

Apple has also adopted the "Gulf of America" name in its maps for US users, in line with Trump's directive.