President of Mexico threatens to take legal action against Google over change of Gulf name
Topics: Mexico, World News, Google
Poppy Bilderbeck
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Eyepix Group
Topics: Mexico, World News, Google
President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum has hit out at Google again following the company's decision to comply with US President Donald Trump's executive order about the Gulf.
Within the first week of being sworn in as the President of the United States for the second time, Donald Trump wasted no time signing off on multiple executive orders including one about 'restoring names that honor American greatness', part of which was about changing the Gulf of Mexico's name to 'Gulf of America'.
The order saw Google comply with the name change, however, it's been met with continued backlash from Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum.
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Sheinbaum joked at a news conference that the US should be renamed too, standing in front of a map of North and South America from 1607 and pointing to areas which are now known as part of the US suggesting: "The United Nations recognizes the name Gulf of Mexico, but next, why don't we call it Mexican America? It sounds nice doesn't it?
"Since 1607, the constitution of Apatzingan was Mexican America. So, let's call it Mexican America?"
In a letter to Google about its agreement to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico, Sheinbaum argued, as quoted by USA Today: "If a country wants to change the designation of something in the sea, it would only apply up to 12 nautical miles. It cannot apply to the rest, in this case, the Gulf of Mexico. This is what we explained in detail to Google."
Going back to her joke about suggesting the US be renamed 'Mexican America' Sheinbaum reportedly added to Google: "We ask that when you put Mexican America in the search engine, the map appears that we presented."
However, she's clearly done with poking fun at the situation, in a press conference yesterday (February 17) revealing Mexico's administration 'will proceed to court' should Google not change the 'Gulf of America' label to cover only the portion of water - 'about 22 nautical miles' - under the US' jurisdiction opposed to the 'entire gulf,' as quoted by KGOU and reported by Business Insider.
A letter from Mexico's administration to Google reads: "Any reference to the 'Gulf of America' initiative on your Google Maps platform must be exclusively limited to the marine area under US jurisdiction.
"Any extension beyond that zone exceeds the authority of any national government or private entity. Should that be the case, the Government of Mexico will take the appropriate legal actions as deemed necessary."
UNILAD has contacted Google for comment.
Trump's executive order suggested the Gulf of Mexico be renamed as 'Gulf of America' calling the area as being 'an integral asset to our once burgeoning Nation and has remained an indelible part of America' and 'a crucial artery for America’s early trade and global commerce'.
Reflecting on its 'remarkable body of water' alongside 'natural resources and wildlife' and how it 'will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping America's future and the global economy,' Trump resolved he would be 'directing' the Gulf be 'officially renamed' the Gulf of America.
Google revealed it would be abiding by Trump's order to change the name although, the name you see upon searching depends on where you are in the world with 'Maps users see their official local name' and 'everyone in the rest of the world sees both names'.