Google Maps to Rename Denali and Gulf of Mexico

Google Maps to Reflect Trump-Era Renaming of Denali and Gulf of Mexico

Google Maps will soon reflect the Trump administration's renaming of Denali to "Mount McKinley" and the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America." This change aligns with Google's policy of using official government sources for location names, specifically the U.S. Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).

While users in the U.S. will see the updated names, those in other countries may see both names displayed. This dual-naming convention applies to locations with internationally recognized names. The changes will take effect shortly after the GNIS updates its database.

This decision follows a 2020 executive order and has sparked controversy, given the historical and cultural significance of the original names. For more on Google Maps updates, check out the Google Gemini redesign.

The renaming also raises questions about the influence of political decisions on geographical designations. For related news on government actions impacting technology, see Brazil's halt on Worldcoin's iris scanning project.

This isn't the first time Google Maps has faced scrutiny over name changes. For further discussion on tech controversies, see the Pixel 4a battery program controversy.