Google maps { Gulf of America name change in the U.S. — what you’ll see in Maps }

 

Google Maps has recently implemented several notable changes:

Renaming of the Gulf of Mexico

In the United States, Google Maps has updated the "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America," aligning with a directive from President Donald Trump. Users in Mexico will continue to see "Gulf of Mexico," while users in other regions will see both names.

Removal of School Reviews in the UK and Ireland

Google has decided to remove all user comments and ratings of schools in the UK and Ireland from Google Maps. This decision follows a petition organized by Justin Cowley, a deputy headteacher from Mendell Primary School, aiming to provide a more reliable source of information for parents.

Censorship of Sensitive Locations

Google Maps has censored or pixelated certain sensitive locations to prevent potential issues. Notable examples include:

• Area 51, a military base in Nevada, USA, associated with UFO theories.

• A house in Mexico City famous for its hanging dolls.

• The naval base in Cartagena, Spain, where coordinates display a blurred rectangle.

• The "house of horrors" in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, where Ariel Castro held three women captive.

• A portal on Espíritu Santo Street in Malasaña, Madrid, where musician Enrique Urquijo passed away.

• Fort Isabel II in Menorca, Spain, with a pixelated military area.

• North Korea, which appears as a void when attempting to zoom in on Google Maps.

These actions reflect Google's ongoing efforts to balance user experience with sensitivity to various geopolitical and cultural considerations.

The name change of the "Gulf of Mexico" to the "Gulf of America" is a significant update that will appear in Google Maps for users in the United States. This change follows a directive issued by President Donald Trump, aiming to replace "Gulf of Mexico" with "Gulf of America" on American maps.

Here’s what you can expect:

1. In the U.S.: The Gulf of Mexico will now be labeled as the "Gulf of America" on Google Maps. This update will reflect the new terminology across various mapping services, including Google Maps.

2. International Users: For users outside of the U.S., the name "Gulf of Mexico" will remain in place. However, the change will be more prominent for American users.

3. Purpose: The update is part of an effort to foster a more American-centric representation of geographical features. It's a notable example of how political decisions can influence global mapping and digital navigation platforms.

You can check out the full update on Google’s official blog, but this is the key takeaway for users in the U.S. when using Google Maps in the coming months.

The names you see in the Maps app are based on your country location, which is determined by information from your phone’s operating system (e.g., iOS and Android), including your SIM, network, and locale. If you’re using Google Maps on the web, the names are based on the region you select in your Search settings or your device’s location, if you haven’t selected one.