Google Maps Blocks Gulf of America Reviews After Backlash
Google Maps has blocked user reviews for the Gulf of Mexico, now labeled as Gulf of America in the US. The change follows an executive order from President Donald Trump, directing official documents to use the new name.
Google Maps Review Block: What Happened?
Users attempting to leave reviews for the Gulf of America on Google Maps are now met with a message stating that posting is turned off.
The restriction came after a flood of negative reviews and accusations of censorship, as Google appears to have deleted one-star reviews criticizing the renaming.
In response, Google defended the move, stating that it frequently disables reviews when it anticipates a surge in off-topic contributions.
Why Did Google Rename the Gulf of Mexico?
Google says it follows a longstanding policy of aligning map names with official US government sources. According to the company:
- US users will now see “Gulf of America” instead of Gulf of Mexico.
- In Mexico and globally, the name remains unchanged, but will include “Gulf of America” in brackets.
However, this has sparked strong opposition, including a letter from Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, requesting that Google not rename the Gulf.
Review-Bombing: A Common Protest Tool
The backlash against Google Maps’ renaming decision is part of a broader trend known as review-bombing—a method used by users to protest against companies and policies.
Examples of past review-bombing incidents include:
- 2020: Negative reviews flooded President Trump’s campaign app after his proposal to ban TikTok.
- 2021: Users bombarded stock-trading apps like Robinhood with bad ratings during the GameStop stock market controversy.
- 2023: Google removed negative reviews from a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, where a suspect in a high-profile murder case was arrested.
Apple Joins the Controversy
Google isn’t the only tech company making the switch. Apple Maps has also updated the Gulf’s name for US users, further fueling the debate.
The White House highlighted the name change in a post on X (formerly Twitter), showing a screenshot of Apple Maps displaying “Gulf of America.”
Criticism of Big Tech’s Political Moves
Some critics argue that tech giants are aligning their policies to gain favor with the Trump administration.
Other recent tech policy shifts under scrutiny include:
- Meta (Facebook & Instagram) dropping fact-checkers for the US.
- Google and Amazon scaling back diversity recruitment programs.
What’s Next for Google Maps and the Gulf of America?
While Google defends its decision, users continue to express frustration over review censorship and renaming policies.
With Mexico’s government opposing the change, and users calling for transparency, this debate is far from over.
Related Links:
- External Source: BBC Coverage
- Internal Source: More on Tech & Censorship
