this post was submitted on 11 Feb 2025
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[–] [email protected] 2 points 28 minutes ago* (last edited 22 minutes ago)

I'm currently in France, this is what I see on Google maps Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)

What a f*cking joke πŸ˜‚

Maps.me shows the real name

As does mappy.cz

[–] [email protected] 2 points 34 minutes ago

I’m in the process of migrating my saved locations and addresses to Organic Maps. Bye Google.

[–] jaemo 5 points 1 hour ago

Cool.

In not at all related news disabling Google maps on your Android device can often be a source of delight! I never knew how capable organic maps was and it has a very nice auto integration.

[–] [email protected] 36 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

That's a weird flex by South Canada.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Nothing will meaningfully improve until the rich fear for their lives

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 hours ago

This is the way.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 6 hours ago (4 children)

The change reflects Google's policy of adhering to official government names for geographical locations.

OK, so why am I seeing Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America) from Canada?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 27 minutes ago

From the Wikipedia for Gulf of Mexico:

While theΒ Interior DepartmentΒ confirmed that the Gulf of America name was effective forΒ U.S. federal agencies, on January 24, the change does not apply in an international context.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Same here in Europe.

This is highly irregular for several reasons:

Google adheres to official government positions, yes, but as far as I'm aware the American government hasn't made the name change official yet. Members of the government have said that they'd do this, but I don't think this idea has passed any process yet. So then why is Google "updated" their maps?

When Google adheres to official government positions, they are local. In example, when you're in China and look up Taiwan, it'll appear as part of China. In other countries it'll appear as either an independent country or a disputed territory, depending on that government's official position on the matter. What we DON'T see is something like "Taiwan (China)", as Google supposedly has no intention on forcing the policies of one government upon another government, and as far as I'm aware the rest of the world hasn't agreed to changing The Gulf of Mexico to The Gulf of America.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 37 minutes ago

If anyone's interested, here's what it looks like in Europe. The good news: this is the first time I've had to use Google Maps in a loooong time (ignoring embedded maps in other sites). OpenStreetMap is wonderful and there are some superb apps powered by it, including the ever-excellent Organic Maps.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 6 hours ago

If Justin Trudeau gets active on this, you can probably get it to Gulf of Canada (Gulf of Mexico) (Gulf of America).

[–] [email protected] 16 points 5 hours ago

What the fuck is this shit?

[–] [email protected] 59 points 7 hours ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 minutes ago

How does it compare to OsmAnd?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 15 minutes ago

I love that it's not google, and the UI is nice, but the lack of realtime traffic info is a real blocker for me

[–] [email protected] 17 points 7 hours ago

It’s a massive upgrade in terms of aesthetics and privacy!

[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Send a complaint through the site. Flood them with complaints about how they are an evil corporation licking Trump's boot and that it's the Gulf of Mexico.

Don't let these damn corporations win.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 hours ago

You do you, but that is literally yelling at a cloud.

Stop using Google services altogether, delete your accounts. Block ads. That's the only way to cost them some pennies.

[–] [email protected] 62 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

What a bunch of cucks! The billionaires have fully taken over!

[–] [email protected] 13 points 7 hours ago (2 children)

They took it over from the millionaires!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 hours ago

and the trillionaires will soon take over!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

For them to not exist and to stop it they need to be cleaned over regularly. Some countries had that figured out.

[–] [email protected] 35 points 8 hours ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 hours ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 hours ago

Same in a little bit to your west Europe.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 7 hours ago

Same, but in Japan.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

If you zoom in does it change? Mine does. I'm in the us

[–] [email protected] 23 points 7 hours ago (3 children)

Huh, do they really change names of international things when only one party says so?

Denali/McKinely is one thing, it's part of the US. But the Gulf of Mexico is a mix of US, Mexico, Cuba, and international waters. I wonder what they show Google Maps users who are in Mexico.

[–] VicksVaporBBQrub 2 points 2 hours ago

I found this paragraph...

Can Trump change the name of the Gulf of Mexico? Maybe, but it’s not a unilateral decision, and other countries don’t have to go along. The International Hydrographic Organization β€” of which both the US and Mexico are members β€” works to ensure all the world’s seas, oceans and navigable waters are surveyed and charted uniformly, and also names some of them. There are instances where countries refer to the same body of water or landmark by different names in their own documentation.

From this webpage... https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/can-trump-change-the-name-of-the-gulf-of-mexico-to-gulf-of-america

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 hour ago

Naming things is complicated.

It's not really a case where some organisation has the authority to name something. Rather people just call something a name, and organisations adopt that name.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

They have clear rules for contested areas... that they follow in an as clear way as they user support rules.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 hours ago

That's reassuring. We all know that google is the best at user support.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 hours ago

Apple still has it as Gulf of Mexico.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 8 hours ago (7 children)

Had to check.

Slowly working towards a viable OpenStreetMap in my area. If you want to help, you can make a free account and begin editing: https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/new

You can also contribute on mobile by using Street Complete or any number of great mobile apps that allow limited editing and full map features like Organic Maps

[–] [email protected] 1 points 45 minutes ago

Street Complete is amazing! Perfect for people who find going on a walk too boring, like me

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 hours ago

Recently began contributing to OpenStreetMap. Information on my place is quite outdated, lots of work to do!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 hours ago

Did not know about Street Complete. Thanks for the recommendation!

[–] sugar_in_your_tea 7 points 7 hours ago

Did the same in my area. The roads are good, but the businesses are either missing or outdated. I probably added 100 over the last few months.

It's kinds fun! When I go out, I check OM and see what's missing, take some pictures, and then go edit a bunch of stuff that night. It doesn't take long, and I feel like it's worth my time.

[–] merde 7 points 8 hours ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 8 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Cuba

United States

Mexico

Gulf of C.U.M.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

you mean of course, to put the US on top, right. #USANumber1

/s of course, if it wasn't obvious

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

Vespucci is also full editor for android.

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[–] [email protected] 36 points 9 hours ago

What's that sucking sound?

[–] [email protected] 22 points 8 hours ago

Apple Maps currently shows it as Gulf of Mexico, fwiw.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 9 hours ago

I mean Google's a huge pushover anyway. Who cares what they think.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 hours ago

Hum... Did they change the name of the North-America's South-West like the Mexico president requested too?

[–] [email protected] 9 points 8 hours ago

This is stupid! I see both names displayed, at least. But still stupid.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 hours ago

They are coming for our freedom fries next.