**In a bid to protect the Gulf of Mexico designation, Mexico has initiated a lawsuit against Google for its unilateral rebranding of the water body to the Gulf of America, igniting diplomatic tensions.**
**Mexico Takes Legal Action Against Google Over Gulf of America Naming Dispute**
**Mexico Takes Legal Action Against Google Over Gulf of America Naming Dispute**
**Legal tussle arises as President Sheinbaum seeks to defend Gulf of Mexico's identity from tech giant’s mapping decisions.**
Mexico has taken a significant legal step against Google, challenging the tech giant's use of the name "Gulf of America" for what is traditionally known as the Gulf of Mexico. President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed frustration over Google's disregard of multiple requests to revert its naming decision. The lawsuit has reportedly not been formally filed, as specifics remain under wraps.
The controversy intensified recently after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to officially adopt the name "Gulf of America" for federal usage, a decree stemming from former President Donald Trump's administration. Trump had justified this renaming by claiming, "We do most of the work there, and it's ours," prompting a strong response from Mexico’s leadership. Sheinbaum asserted that this decree affects only the U.S. continental shelf and that the authority to rename the entire gulf lies beyond the U.S.'s jurisdiction.
In January, Sheinbaum reached out to Google, urging the corporation to reconsider its mapping labels in the U.S. Following inaction, the Mexican government signaled potential legal proceedings. Google maintained that its naming decision was in line with established practices responding to government sources, clarifying that users in Mexico would still see the Gulf labeled correctly, while users elsewhere would encounter the dual designation.
The Associated Press has also faced repercussions for resisting the name change, resulting in conflicts with the White House that led to a federal judge ordering an end to the restrictions on the news outlet. Further complicating matters, Trump hinted at a potential rebranding of the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Gulf during a forthcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, provoking remarks from Iranian officials who oppose such changes.
As tensions simmer over the geographical nomenclature, Mexico remains firm on its quest to reclaim the Gulf of Mexico’s rightful name in a digital space increasingly influenced by tech platforms.
