Google Maps has disabled reviews for the Gulf of Mexico after receiving backlash for renaming it the “Gulf of America” for U.S. users. The change, which occurred on Wednesday, followed an executive order from President Donald Trump directing the U.S. government to alter official documents to reflect the new name. Now, when users click on the Gulf’s location in Google Maps, a note appears stating that “posting is currently turned off.”
Google has reportedly deleted some critical comments made after the renaming, with many users accusing the company of censorship. Some social media users claim that hundreds of one-star reviews have been removed, sparking outrage.
Google has defended its decision, explaining that it occasionally disables contributions when it anticipates an increase in unrelated or off-topic content. The company also cited a 2023 blog post addressing its efforts to prevent policy violations, such as fake reviews, and described how it removes content to safeguard its platform from abuse.
The renaming of the Gulf to “Gulf of America” is part of Google’s policy to reflect U.S. government-approved name changes. However, the name will remain as “Gulf of Mexico” in other countries, with “Gulf of America” appearing alongside it for U.S. users.
Criticism of the name change has been widespread. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum sent a letter to Google, urging the company to reverse the decision, suggesting potential legal action. On social media, users have expressed their discontent by posting negative one-star reviews for the Google Maps app itself, with some calling the labels “factually inaccurate.”
Other tech companies, including Apple, have also updated their Maps apps to reflect the new name for U.S. users. Actor George Takei has joined the protest, encouraging followers to report the renamed location on Apple Maps.
This renaming controversy follows a trend of large tech companies facing scrutiny for their perceived ties to political interests. Meta, for example, made waves earlier this year by scaling back its U.S. fact-checking initiatives and global content policies, while Amazon and Google also adjusted their diversity recruitment goals in response to political pressures.
