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Google will rename Gulf of Mexico following Donald Trump declaration (www.sbs.com.au)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

So their announcement seems to be saying they'll follow what the national government officially calls the feature:

In an X post on Monday, Google said its Maps service would reflect the change once it is officially updated in the US Geographic Names System. The change will be visible to Google Maps users in the US, but it will remain listed as Gulf of Mexico for those accessing the platform from Mexico. Outside of the two countries, users will see both names.

And, yeah. What is the alternative policy from Google that we're proposing? That Google should be sovereign in itself, declare they'll name it whatever seems right to Google, and not defer to the government appointed names for things? Based on what, exactly?

I want Google subject to official government policy, and not to ignore it. I want Google Maps to follow the official name when, for example, Ayer's Rock is now officially called Uluru.

This specific government policy (that the Gulf of Mexico be changed to the "Gulf of America") is stupid and jingoistic. But is the answer to that, we want corporations empowered to ignore government policy?

If the government of the day orders that Uluru is now called "Aussie Stone", and Google announces they'll update maps to follow the change of official name? My objection is not that Google follows the official name; it's that the government of the day is wrong and needs to be ousted.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Yeah I sorta agree. I think following government policy rather than making their own decision is a good way to avoid them being responsible for any really bad political blunders.

But at the same time, yeah, it would be kinda nice if they could take a stand. Not on any seriously complicated issues like Kashmir, but when it's just a jingoistic fascist doing jingoistic nationalism? Yeah, it'd be good if they put their foot down and said "no, that's BS, and we're not going to enable it". For the same reason I don't like Facebook hiding behind "it's free speech" when excusing the (entirely technically legal) hate speech they allow on their platform.