Mexico Takes Legal Action Against Google Over Gulf of Mexico Name Change

President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico announced the lawsuit against Google after the tech giant ignored requests to revert the name change, which stems from former President Donald Trump's directive. The complexity of international naming rights and the implications for regional identity is at the forefront of this developing story.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced that the government is suing Google following the company's controversial decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America" for its U.S. users. Sheinbaum stated that the name change has been ignored despite numerous requests by her administration to restore the original name. The specifics of where the lawsuit was filed remain undisclosed, and Google has yet to provide any comment regarding the matter.

On Thursday, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives officially endorsed the name change for federal agencies. The impetus for this change came from an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump on his first day in office, where he justified the renaming by asserting that the United States "does most of the work there, and it's ours."

The Mexican government argues that Trump's directive applies only to the U.S. continental shelf and insists that the U.S. lacks authority over the entire body of water. "All we want is for the decree issued by the U.S. government to be complied with," Sheinbaum asserted, contesting the legitimacy of the name change.

In a letter dated January, Sheinbaum formally requested that Google reconsider its decision to adopt the name "Gulf of America." Following the lack of response, she threatened legal action in the subsequent month. Google has indicated that the name change to "Gulf of America" was made as part of established practices that involve adopting names altered by official government sources. Notably, Google maintains that users in Mexico will still see "Gulf of Mexico," while those in other regions will be presented with "Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)."

The Associated Press (AP) has not adopted the Gulf of America name, resulting in tensions with the Trump administration that led to restricted access for AP journalists at specific events. A federal judge intervened in April, rebuking the White House for its actions against the outlet.

In other developments related to U.S.-related geopolitical naming, Trump hinted at a possible future announcement regarding the nomenclature of the Persian Gulf during an upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, suggesting it may be referred to as the Arabian Gulf or Gulf of Arabia, prompting backlash from Iranian officials concerned about regional sovereignty and cultural identity.