It controversially updated the Gulf's name for US users after President Trump ordered it to be changed.

Summary

Google Maps has blocked reviews for the Gulf of Mexico after backlash over renaming it “Gulf of America” for U.S. users, following a Trump executive order.

Critics accused Google of censorship after it removed negative reviews. Google defended the move, citing policies against off-topic content.

Mexico’s President Sheinbaum opposed the change and may take legal action. Apple Maps also adopted the new name.

The controversy adds to concerns over tech companies aligning with Trump, following Meta’s rollback of fact-checking and diversity initiatives.

  • ilmagico@lemmy.world
    1425·
    1 day ago

    I’m all for dropping Google if you can, but this is not Google’s fault, it’s Trump’s. Google is simply abiding by its policies of showing names chosen by a given country. If you’re in Mexico, my understanding is that it still shows Gulf of Mexico.

    Ah, and as far as dropping Google maps… seriously, I can’t find a valid alternative with real time traffic data as good as Google, free or paid, what do you suggest?

    • theluckyone@discuss.onlineEnglish
      3·
      19 hours ago

      Bull turkey.

      1st Amendment: Trump can’t order Google what to call any particular location. He can ask, Google can follow along (or not), and we can tell Google to get bent (or not).

    • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
      11·
      1 day ago

      I’m in Canada and it shows me the bullshit name. The way Google correctly handles highly temporary vanity bullshit is to limit the name change to just that country’s users.

      • ilmagico@lemmy.world
        12·
        1 day ago

        The article says that for the rest of the world it still shows “Gulf of Mexico” … I’m in the USA so I can’t check. Are you saying that you are not in the USA and it shows both names?

        • samus12345@lemm.eeEnglish
          1·
          20 hours ago

          Yes, it shows both, which is what makes it so ridiculous. The white nationalist government of one country on the entire planet refers to it by that name, the country that Google is based in, and everyone else in the world is forced to see it? You can’t convince me that’s not politically motivated.

          • ilmagico@lemmy.world
            2·
            16 hours ago

            Yeah, that is ridiculous. I don’t really have a lot of respect for Google already, but this erodes that but of respect I had left for them.

    • ArchAengelus@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      1·
      1 day ago

      I find Waze has better real-time traffic info. Driving time estimates may vary a bit more, but I find it to be a more than adequate replacement for most tasks.

      You do have to gut check some of its suggestions, though: it seems to think some roads are slower, even when they’re not as busy, and will route around them.

      • ilmagico@lemmy.world
        2·
        16 hours ago

        Thanks for the suggestion, but yeah, Waze is Google. Also, unless it improved a lot lately, I really didn’t like it, personally.

        On Android, Organic Maps or OsmAnd are pretty good if traffic data is not needed, Magic Earth has “traffic” but it’s not accurate and pales compared to gmaps. What else is there? sygic? tom tom? I tried them all a few years ago, they all had some big deal breaker. Maybe I should look at them again.