What a bunch of cucks! The billionaires have fully taken over!
Google officially changes the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on Maps
Submitted 3 months ago by return2ozma@lemmy.world to technology@lemmy.world
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2025/02/10/google-gulf-of-mexico-america-maps/78394410007/
Comments
Punchshark@lemmy.ca 3 months ago
spankmonkey@lemmy.world 3 months ago
They took it over from the millionaires!
aeternum@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 months ago
and the trillionaires will soon take over!
devfuuu@lemmy.world [bot] 3 months ago
For them to not exist and to stop it they meed to be cleaned over regularly. Some countries had that figured out.
ramjambamalam@lemmy.ca 3 months ago
That’s a weird flex by the United States of South Canada
SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Nothing will meaningfully improve until the rich fear for their lives
Mrkawfee@lemmy.world 3 months ago
This is the way.
DarkFuture@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Bingo.
Imagine getting every “alpha male” 2A nutjob violent conservative to realize who their actual enemy is.
We’d get some actual positive change in an extremely short period of time.
Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 3 months ago
Atherel@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 months ago
Skunk@jlai.lu 3 months ago
th3dogcow@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Same, but in Japan.
Maruki_Hurakami@lemm.ee 3 months ago
If you zoom in does it change? Mine does. I’m in the us
Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 3 months ago
No
beejjorgensen@lemmy.sdf.org 3 months ago
What’s that sucking sound?
fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 3 months ago
Time for a repeat comment: Organic Maps does everything Google Maps does (except traffic conditions), and is FOSS. Please encourage places to contribute business information to Open Street Maps.
moakley@lemmy.world 3 months ago
I’m all for swapping apps, but Organic Maps doesn’t even have my home address. And I live in a major metropolitan area.
Flocklesscrow@lemm.ee 3 months ago
My test search for the UPS store up the street sent me 4km away. So…not great.
TimboSlice@discuss.online 3 months ago
Just swapped apps. Thanks for the suggestion!
brb@sh.itjust.works 3 months ago
I just tried it and found three dealbreakers instantly.
-
It doesn’t have my address (I know I could add it but who knows what else it’s missing)
-
It couldn’t find any public transport routes in my area
-
There is no satellite view
-
IDKWhatUsernametoPutHereLolol@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 months ago
The traffic conditions is huge tho
Just last week, that philly plane crash, I saw exactly where the roads are closed and which roads are congested.
sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 months ago
I use Google maps mostly to find out where things are, and unfortunately OSM does not have as many places as Google Maps. I can add one or two places I notice are missing (even though the phone interface isn’t that easy) but Google Maps consistently has better information, so I mostly use organic maps for when I already know the address or already know the location is in its database.
GnuLinuxDude@lemmy.ml 3 months ago
This whole thing is extremely cringe. There isn’t any other way to put it. Trump. His executive order. The compliance. It’s all cringe.
Eagle0110@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Though to be fair cringe is like right in the very blood to Google anyway so what would you expect…
I mean, just look at how they often respond on their bug tracker platform of most of their products and how they try to justify their endless streams of questionable design decisions, that seems to be characteristic of them at this point lol
ramjambamalam@lemmy.ca 3 months ago
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?
Tattorack@lemmy.world 3 months ago
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.
rmuk@feddit.uk 3 months 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.
tal@lemmy.today 3 months ago
If Justin Trudeau gets active on this, you can probably get it to Gulf of Canada (Gulf of Mexico) (Gulf of America).
afronaut@lemmy.cafe 3 months ago
From the Wikipedia for Gulf of Mexico:
While the Interior Department confirmed that the Gulf of America name was effective for U.S. federal agencies, on January 24, the change does not apply in an international context.
DarkFuture@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Next president, assuming there is one, will just change it back to repair relations with our allies.
Even if it never gets changed back, it’ll be a generation before people actually start calling it that. No one alive now is going to give a fuck about the Gulf of America or call it that.
Hey conservatives, not that you’re intelligent enough to figure out how to get on Lemmy, but if by some miracle one of you reads this, why is Trump doing this and floating invading our allies and annexing their territories instead of lowering the price of groceries as promised on day 1?
MojoMcJojo@lemmy.world 3 months ago
You eat your Freedom Fries and you like it
vodkasolution@feddit.it 3 months ago
sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 months ago
I can’t seem to do this from the phone app
tias@discuss.tchncs.de 3 months ago
Obviously that’s not going to make one iota of difference. They’re an American company and they have been ordered by the president of the country to do this. They already do similar things in other authoritarian countries like China and Turkey, because anything else would risk the safety of Google employees.
If you don’t like it, change to a non-American product and/or vote for a different president.
vodkasolution@feddit.it 3 months ago
I somehow have a feeling that being president of the USA does not mean you can do whatever you want and people have to follow… Google Map, for one, is a product of a private company, not a Federal Service of the USA - so if they want to call it “Gulf of Google”, they could!
Then you’re right, they already protect/black out places and some places’ names, however the Gulf of America, like the Channel of Washington are just bs that in the worst case scenario will live 4 years. So it’s a joke and I like joking toosem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 months ago
The American president can only order so much. As of yesterday, the BGN has changed the name, but this affects Federal Government usage. Google as a private company could continue to use the common name if they wanted to.
This is why Open Street Maps has a “name” field and “official name” field, for where these two aren’t the same. This is already the case for the English names “Saigon” and “Ho Chi Minh City” which refer to the same place in Vietnam.
Sergio@slrpnk.net 3 months ago
Apple Maps currently shows it as Gulf of Mexico, fwiw.
thisphuckinguy@lemmy.world 3 months ago
What the fuck is this shit?
DarkFuture@lemmy.world 3 months ago
A born rich low IQ loser jerking himself off while we’re all forced to watch.
Vanth@reddthat.com 3 months ago
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.
marcos@lemmy.world 3 months ago
They have clear rules for contested areas… that they follow in an as clear way as they user support rules.
devfuuu@lemmy.world [bot] 3 months ago
That’s reassuring. We all know that google is the best at user support.
VicksVaporBBQrub@sh.itjust.works 3 months 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 — of which both the US and Mexico are members — 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… pbs.org/…/can-trump-change-the-name-of-the-gulf-o…
fine_sandy_bottom@discuss.tchncs.de 3 months 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.
gedaliyah@lemmy.world 3 months ago
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: 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
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 3 months 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@sh.itjust.works 3 months ago
Gulf of Cuba
:)
ThatGuy46475@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Cuba
United States
Mexico
Gulf of C.U.M.
FierceNerd@lemm.ee 3 months ago
Did not know about Street Complete. Thanks for the recommendation!
onyxjet@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Vespucci is a full editor for android.
cmhe@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Interesting discussion about this on the OpenStreetMap forums.
altima_neo@lemmy.zip 3 months ago
I mean Google’s a huge pushover anyway. Who cares what they think.
the_doktor@lemmy.zip 3 months ago
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.
mrmule@lemmy.world 3 months ago
BombOmOm@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Apple still has it as Gulf of Mexico.
afronaut@lemmy.cafe 3 months ago
I’m in the process of migrating my saved locations and addresses to Organic Maps. Bye Google.
jaemo@sh.itjust.works 3 months 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.
franzcoz@feddit.cl 3 months ago
This is stupid! I see both names displayed, at least. But still stupid.
vodkasolution@feddit.it 3 months ago
UNITED STATES OF NORTH MEXICO
I’m gonna start creating new pubs, bars and so on, everywhere I go, and call them Trump’s Mexican Deli, Donnie & Elon’s vacancy hotel, and so on. Please contribute (use an alternative google account)RxBrad@infosec.pub 3 months ago
Genuinely curious… How does Google handle other oceanic naming that isn’t agreed upon Worldwide?
mRbLUE@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Would be shame if google are snowed under with reports the name is wrong :-)
Bwaz@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Well. O. K. Then it’s my not the 'USA" that did this anymore. It’s to be called “North Mexico” now. Fair’s fair.
solrize@lemmy.world 3 months ago
They are coming for our freedom fries next.
Fleur_@hilariouschaos.com 3 months ago
Using google maps from Australia it’s label like “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)”
I think the Australian government should call it “gulf of fuck-knows” and see if google adds another title.
Opinionhaver@feddit.uk 3 months ago
I don’t honestly see a big issue with this. First of all: It’s called Gulf of America, not Gulf of USA. Considering it’s a gulf between south and north American continents it’s actually a more fitting name and in no way excludes Mexico.
And secondly, you can just move on with your life and keep calling it the Gulf of Mexico and everyone will perfectly understand what you mean. Nobody is holding a gun to your head and telling you to adopt the new name. Same applies to Twitter and Facebook too for example.
_lilith@lemmy.world 3 months ago
What a great time to download Organic maps
Sunshine@lemmy.ca 3 months ago
It’s a massive upgrade in terms of aesthetics and privacy!
ouch@lemmy.world 3 months ago
How does it compare to OsmAnd?
gedaliyah@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Also a great choice. I prefer organic maps for a variety of reasons (like ability to contribute to the maps), but a lot of people prefer OsmAnd. They are both very good.
superkret@feddit.org 3 months ago
Organic Maps has fewer features and settings and concentrates on what most people use the most.
It is also much, much faster than OsmAnd.
oxf@sh.itjust.works 3 months ago
OsmAnd is the Swiss army knife of Open Street Map frontends, but as I’m sure you’ll agree on (if you’ve used it), it can be a bit of a headache setting it up, as well as getting familiar with it.
Organic Maps caters more to people seeking a pure alternative to Google/Apple Maps. It’s the layman’s alternative.
If you’re a poweruser, and already familiar with OsmAnd, there’s no point in switching. But in terms of getting other, non tech savvy, people to switch, it’s a great recommendation!
Junkernaught@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 months 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
gedaliyah@lemmy.world 3 months ago
You might be interested in Magic Earth is is also built on OpenStreetMap but includes crowdsourced traffic data. If you are in a big city then it’s likely they have good data for your area.