Bristling at ‘Gulf of Mexico’ Name Change on Maps, Mexico Says It Might Sue Google

 Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during her daily press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico, 13 February 2025. (EPA)
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during her daily press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico, 13 February 2025. (EPA)
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Bristling at ‘Gulf of Mexico’ Name Change on Maps, Mexico Says It Might Sue Google

 Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during her daily press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico, 13 February 2025. (EPA)
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during her daily press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico, 13 February 2025. (EPA)

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that her government wouldn't rule out filing a civil lawsuit against Google if it maintains its stance of calling the stretch of sea between northeastern Mexico and the southeastern United States the "Gulf of America."

The area, long named the Gulf of Mexico across the world, has gained a geopolitical spotlight after President Donald Trump declared he would change the Gulf's name.

Sheinbaum, in her morning news conference, said the president's decree is restricted to the "continental shelf of the United States" because Mexico still controls much of the Gulf. "We have sovereignty over our continental shelf," she said.

Sheinbaum said that despite the fact that her government sent a letter to Google saying that the company was "wrong" and that "the entire Gulf of Mexico cannot be called the Gulf of America," the company has insisted on maintaining the nomenclature.

It was not immediately clear where such a suit would be filed.

Google reported last month on its X account, formerly Twitter, that it maintains a "long-standing practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources."

As of Thursday, how the Gulf appeared on Google Maps was dependent on the user's location and other data. If the user is in the United States, the body of water appeared as Gulf of America. If the user was physically in Mexico, it would appear as the Gulf of Mexico. In many other countries across the world it appears as "Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)."

Sheinbaum has repeatedly defended the name Gulf of Mexico, saying its use dates to 1607 and is recognized by the United Nations.

She has also mentioned that, according to the constitution of Apatzingán, the antecedent to Mexico’s first constitution, the North American territory was previously identified as "Mexican America". Sheinbaum has used the example to poke fun at Trump and underscore the international implications of changing the Gulf's name.

In that sense, Sheinbaum said on Thursday that the Mexican government would ask Google to make "Mexican America" pop up on the map when searched.

This is not the first time Mexicans and Americans have disagreed on the names of key geographic areas, such as the border river between Texas and the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas. Mexico calls it Rio Bravo and for the United States it is the Rio Grande.

This week, the White House barred Associated Press reporters from several events, including some in the Oval Office, saying it was because of the news agency's policy on the name. AP is using "Gulf of Mexico" but also acknowledging Trump's renaming of it as well, to ensure that names of geographical features are recognizable around the world.



Saudi Arabia Highlights Global Leadership in Protecting Children in Cyberspace

File photo: Saudi Arabia highlights global leadership in protecting children in cyberspace. (SPA)
File photo: Saudi Arabia highlights global leadership in protecting children in cyberspace. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Highlights Global Leadership in Protecting Children in Cyberspace

File photo: Saudi Arabia highlights global leadership in protecting children in cyberspace. (SPA)
File photo: Saudi Arabia highlights global leadership in protecting children in cyberspace. (SPA)

As part of the global initiative “Child Protection in Cyberspace” (CPC) launched by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the permanent mission of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations in Geneva organized a side event focused on enhancing capacity building to protect children in cyberspace as a shared global responsibility.

The event was held on the sidelines of the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council in partnership with the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) and the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF), the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The CPC initiative aims to provide a safe and empowering environment for children worldwide.

The session, attended by the permanent representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, Ambassador Abdulmohsen Majed bin Khothaila, featured participation from the GCF, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the WeProtect Global Alliance.

The session highlighted Saudi Arabia’s pioneering efforts in protecting children in cyberspace through a comprehensive and proactive approach that includes implementing national frameworks, developing educational programs, and enhancing international cooperation in the field.

These efforts align with the objectives of Vision 2030, which places investment in human capital at the core of social and economic development.

Meanwhile, the GCF launched a joint project with UNICEF aimed at training and preparing over 5 million parents and caregivers worldwide on best practices to protect children from cyber risks, along with providing specialized technical support to child helpline service providers in 30 countries.

The session concluded with participants emphasizing the importance of building effective partnerships between countries, international organizations, and the private sector to implement comprehensive capacity-building programs and ensure the protection of children in cyberspace.