Mexico Threatens Legal Action Against Google Over Gulf Of Mexico Name Change

Mexico has threatened to sue Google if the tech giant does not reverse its recent renaming of the Gulf of Mexico.

In a press conference on Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum voiced strong disapproval over Google’s decision to label the entire body of water as the “Gulf of America” for US-based users of Google Maps.

She argued that the renaming was an incorrect interpretation of a 2020 order by former President Donald Trump, which applied only to the portion of the gulf within US jurisdiction, as noted by CNN.

Trump’s decree, according to Sheinbaum, applied only to the portion of the Gulf of Mexico under US jurisdiction—specifically, the US continental shelf extending 22 nautical miles from the US coast, as noted by CNN.

“What Google is doing here is changing the name of the continental shelf of Mexico and Cuba, which has nothing to do with Trump’s decree, which applied only to the US continental shelf,” Sheinbaum told reporters, as reported by CNN.

“We do not agree with this, and the Foreign Minister has sent a new letter addressing the issue,” she added.

The controversy began last week when Google renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America for US users, citing a “longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.” as noted by CNN.

However, people in Mexico and other countries still see the body of water listed as the Gulf of Mexico. For users outside the US, Google Maps displays both names.

Sheinbaum emphasized that the renaming was inaccurate and that the decree was only effective within US territorial waters. “The only place it was effective was where [the US] has sovereignty, or up to 22 nautical miles from the coast,” Sheinbaum stated last week, as previously reported by Reuters.

“If necessary we will file a civil suit,” she added, reiterating that Mexico would take legal action if Google does not correct the name.

Business Insider notes that the Mexican government has been in talks with Google since January about the name change. In response to Google’s decision, Mexico’s Foreign Minister sent a formal letter asserting that any reference to the “Gulf of America” label on Google Maps should be strictly limited to the marine area under US jurisdiction.

The letter read, “Any extension beyond that zone exceeds the authority of any national government or private entity,” as reported by Business Insider.

Mexico’s legal team is already examining the possibility of a civil suit, but Sheinbaum stated that the government would await a response from Google before proceeding with legal action.

“Our legal area is already looking into what that would mean, but we hope that (Google) reconsiders,” she said. The situation remains unresolved as both parties continue discussions.