this post was submitted on 01 Feb 2025
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cross-posted from: https://ponder.cat/post/1485960

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote a letter asking Google to reject the U.S. decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America on its mapping service.

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[–] misk@sopuli.xyz 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (4 children)

But why? Does anyone know an instance where local Google Maps version doesn’t follow local naming? Why would Google change it in Mexican version of Maps? Is Mexican president a Lemmy user?

[edit]

Oh no, I just realised Americans think there’s one version of Google maps and that we’re all using theirs. Didn’t think there’d be so many on Lemmy.

[–] sik0fewl@lemmy.ca 5 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

If it's the same as the policy described here for Google Earth, then I think all English language speakers may get the change.

Of course, the policy also says this, so maybe it's not relevant afterall:

By saying "common", we mean to include names which are in widespread daily use, rather than giving immediate recognition to any arbitrary governmental re-naming. In other words, if a ruler announced that henceforth the Pacific Ocean would be named after her mother, we would not add that placemark unless and until the name came into common usage.

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 3 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Google still puts my map in miles and gives gas prices in gallons.... I am in Canada where we use neither.

[–] tiefling@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

That sounds like a problem with your phone, not Google. It should absolutely be localized to c/ltr and kmph

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 3 points 13 hours ago

Well its been doing this for the last 4 or so phones now. I think its more an issue of it geolocating me to the States sometimes. Its more an annoyance at this point.

[–] misk@sopuli.xyz 1 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (1 children)

Might be worth checking if you have this set to automatic and override if it still gives you trouble. I assume it could pulling your location imprecisely enough (due to border traffic as well) but that’s whole another issue without a good solution.

[–] M0oP0o@mander.xyz 1 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

I change it, but then half the time when it updates I am back in the silly units. I should really look for another map program

[–] MoondropLight@thelemmy.club 2 points 10 hours ago

Try organic maps! It's based on open street map data and doesn't track you.

[–] GeneralEmergency@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Americans have really exposed just how sheltered and self absorbed they are.

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 15 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Google is not an authority, it's a publisher. Like any publisher, it can decide which naming standard to follow in its publications.

[–] refurbishedrefurbisher@lemmy.sdf.org 19 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Google has authority because both Google Maps and Waze are extremely popular and both controlled by Google/Alphabet.

[–] aesthelete@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

This is going to be important too because a lot of people are going to be walking into the ocean over the next few years, and are going to need directions to it.

[–] Sanctus@lemmy.world 28 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I hope everyone understands the oligarchs are trying to project their power through their American Tech companies' global reach. This is just fucken Handlebars by the Flowbots.

[–] Glifted@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Man thats a reference I haven't heard in awhile

[–] garbagebagel@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I recently discovered Handle Your Bars which was a clapback to a shitty "cover" that was done of the song and it is pretty great. That's like a few years old now too I'm just behind the times.

[–] JustAnotherKay@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Handle your bars was crazy, and got me to go listen to handlebars again

[–] ArbiterXero@lemmy.world 23 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Because Google is going to play both sides.

They’ll look at the geo location of your ip v and name it based on where you’re from.

Not entirely different from changing the language to your local dialect.

Non issue and a distraction from real issues.

Stop giving this meaningless stupidity Any air time.

[–] moody@lemmings.world 3 points 1 day ago (2 children)

They said that in Mexico, it will show the Gulf of Mexico, and outside of the US, they will show both names.

[–] garbagebagel@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

That's somehow worse to me

[–] oktoberpaard@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago

I wonder if they will also show both names in foreign languages. That would only be possible for those languages that use a direct translation of the English name and then still it would be very weird to just add a new name that’s not the official one in that language.

Does anyone know other examples where two names are shown? Plenty of things have different names in different countries or languages, so I’m trying to understand what the criteria are to show both names in an international context. Maybe it only happens for languages where two names exist.

Google isn’t the de facto authority, they only have authority over their own maps. That said, mapmakers have always had influence (Amerigo Vespucci and Martin Waldseemüller, anyone?) It won’t change for people outside the US, much like the Sea of Japan shows different names for people accessing Google Maps from Japan or Korea.

[–] cybervseas@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

Because corporations have invaded and taken over every facet of our lives.

[–] latenightnoir@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

Because they paid a lot of money for Tru - I mean they rubbed up really nicely up against Tru - I mean because they're one of the monoliths with ties to the American political syste - I mean because they're totally trustworthy and impartial actors.

[–] iamanoldguy@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Sorry Google. I don't use any of your services at all, ever. It is the Gulf of Mexico and it will remain the Gulf of Mexico. just like fench fries are not freedom fries, they're french fries and french toast is not Texas toast, it's french toast. Google can take a long leap off of a very tall bridge.

I trust that others will maintain proper naming conventions when publishing maps and not buckle under the pressure of a thin skinned toddler and his cult followers.

I trust that others will maintain proper naming conventions when publishing maps and not buckle under the pressure of a thin skinned toddler and his cult followers.

Nah, they'll delay it by a couple months and people will have forgotten