Google says it will change Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America' in Maps after government updates

[ubergeek@lemmy.today]

I mean, we all know Canadians see things wrong

[epeegnome@lemm.ee]

It's my understanding that the executive does not have the authority to unilaterally change official geographic names. As of my writing this, the name “change” has NOT been adopted by the United States government. Congress granted that authority to the US Board of Geographic Names in 1890. Unless accepted by the US BoGN, it changes nothing. I suppose Congress could rename it if they passed a bill that the president signed into law overriding that authority for that specific case, but until they did so, it’s not official.

Here is the link to the US Geographic Names Information system page showing the current official name of the Gulf of Mexico: https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/558730. Note the list of accepted variant names, which still doesn’t include “Gulf of America”.

Google are saying here that they will only change it on maps if it's made official by the US Government, which has not happened yet. That's why they haven't made any change yet, and won't unless Trump gets the US BoGN to do his bidding.

[dannymac@lemm.ee]

It's misdirection and makes any laws or regulations specifically mentioning the Gulf of Mexico no longer apply since "tHeRe iSnT a gULf oF mExIcO."

[dannymac@lemm.ee]

If you want Pluto to be a planet, have the definition of "planet" changed so that Pluto would fall within that definition.

[bfg9k@lemmy.world]

Oh for fucks sake, I finally find a decent alternative and they do this shit.

[johncorky@lemmings.world]

Why is it that when Prez Asshole farts from his mouth, so many race to inhale the stench and call it a rose?

[lovablesidekick@lemmy.world]

Mexico should rename Baja California to Peninsula Pacifica.

[casuallynoted@pawb.social]

Wildly, people still think that about working at Apple, for now. I do see that changing slowly too though.

[werefreeatlast@lemmy.world]

Only hot and or under aged immigrants are acceptable. Specially if they have big natural boobs because that means new Americans with big natural boobs. I think penis-wise probably they might consider 8" and longer but must be very girthy. What do I know, I'm not a rapist politician. I could be totally wrong.

[presidentcamacho@lemm.ee]

One of my favorite lines from early on in trumps rise to cult leader was "Conservatives would let Trump shit in their mouth just to watch liberals become disgusted"

[nwtreeoctopus@sh.itjust.works]

I always heard it "...as long as a liberal had to smell it."

[presidentcamacho@lemm.ee]

Sadly though this was never going to be avoided, sure they're leaning hard into conservative cult nonsense, but they were still on a downword optics trajectory. Its impossible not to have this happen in capitalism, it will always be inevitable that enshitifcation happens to milk profit from anywhere it can, and that will always look bad.

[presidentcamacho@lemm.ee]

Yeah you're right, I couldn't remember the exact wording only the general sentiment, so i went with something close enough lol

[rimjob_rainer@discuss.tchncs.de]

They can name it how they want, the rest of the world will keep the current name. They could name it piss puddle and nobody would care.

[cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone]

So why didn't they change Crimea to be part of Russia, if that's always been the longstanding policy, Google?

(Note; I'm not suggesting it is a part of Russia; just pointing out the hypocrisy since this is the same thing as Russia claiming ownership of Crimea.)

[hardcoreufo@lemmy.world]

I know I'm pretty pissed off about it too.

[thomascrappersghost@feddit.uk]

They proved that by wearing nappies…

[selokichtli@lemmy.ml]

"Completely arbitrary trolling".

[smeenz@lemmy.nz]

There's little point in doing so, other than the feel-good moment. Google, and all other mapping companies, ultimately take their data from official sources. This differs per country, so users of maps from outside of the US will continue to see Gulf of Mexico, but complaining that it is wrong will only be ignored because they're following the data from the official US government source.

[justjack23@slrpnk.net]

Hey great idea, is there an open street maps app?

I found the StreetComplete one here