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
    1427·
    5 days 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?

    • BalderSion@real.lemmy.fanEnglish
      3·
      3 days ago

      I’ve been using Here we go for years. I think it started as a Nokia project, that spun off to it’s own thing. I started using to conserve data. You download the map of your region when you have Wi-Fi, and it’s pretty low data load from there, directions and traffic updates mostly. I’ve been happy with it for a long time. I haven’t opened g-maps in ages. I know there are other options out there, open source and what not, but I never felt the need to try anything else out.

    • Empricorn@feddit.nlEnglish
      3·
      3 days ago

      Sure, all these giant corporations have no choice but to tongue Trump’s butthole.

      EDIT:

      Google is simply abiding by its policies of showing names chosen by a given country.

      But this is specifically not the country (as in Congress or the majority of people) choosing it. This was an Executive Order because Trump hates brown people. It’s also not legal.

    • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
      11·
      5 days 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·
        5 days 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
          2·
          5 days 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.

    • CastorSulMush@lemmy.world
      1·
      4 days ago

      In Canada it’s now showing: Gulf of Mexico ( Gulf of America). Might be just a matter of time before they completely switch it over to Gulf of America.

    • theluckyone@discuss.onlineEnglish
      3·
      4 days 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).

    • ArchAengelus@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      1·
      5 days 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·
        4 days 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.

        • actaastron@reddthat.comEnglish
          1·
          3 days ago

          I’ve been trialling Here We Go in my quest to move away from Google and like it better than all the others so far.