A diplomatic firestorm has erupted after the Mexican government officially filed a lawsuit against Google for what it calls a “deliberate and offensive” renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” on Google Maps. The change, first spotted by users earlier this week, triggered an immediate backlash from both Mexican officials and international users, with outrage boiling over into legal action.
“This is a direct assault on our national identity and territorial integrity,” said Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena in a televised address. “The Gulf of Mexico is not up for rebranding by a Silicon Valley company. We demand a full apology and immediate restoration of the proper name.”
BREAKING: Mexico files lawsuit against Google after ‘Gulf of Mexico’ is changed to ‘Gulf of America’ on Maps. Officials call it a “blatant act of erasure.” https://t.co/8zPQ6VLlmr #GulfGate pic.twitter.com/YFkMItfsWJ— CNN (@CNN) June 5, 2025
The lawsuit, filed in the International Court of Justice at The Hague, accuses Google of “geopolitical interference,” “cultural disrespect,” and “digital colonialism.” It also demands damages and a formal commitment from the tech giant to avoid unilateral territorial edits without government consultation.
Google responded with a brief statement claiming the change was the result of a “temporary labeling error,” and said it was “working to resolve the issue immediately.” However, screenshots of the altered map — some still visible in certain regions — have already flooded social media.
Google: “We acknowledge reports of incorrect labeling on Google Maps and are working swiftly to fix it. We regret the confusion caused.” https://t.co/XgWY0oG8nO #TechNews pic.twitter.com/1ebtRocgGu— Bloomberg (@business) June 5, 2025
The outrage has also drawn fresh political scrutiny in the U.S., where conspiracy theories linking the change to Trump’s rumored push to rebrand parts of North America have gained traction. While there’s no confirmation of any White House involvement, Senator Ted Cruz tweeted, “If Trump renamed it, I say we leave it. American waters for American prosperity.”
Senator Ted Cruz: “The Gulf of America sounds right to me. American waters, American power. 🇺🇸” https://t.co/LZfEMcfmN2 #Politics pic.twitter.com/bh8i1fqH0N— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 5, 2025
Public reaction has been swift and passionate. The hashtag #ItsTheGulfOfMexico began trending globally within hours. Celebrities, politicians, and educators have joined in the outcry.
PopCrave: “Gulf of America?? Absolutely not. The disrespect is unreal. It’s the Gulf of Mexico. Period.” https://t.co/DqI4p9p5cM #ItsTheGulfOfMexico pic.twitter.com/Ba8ZL5cgcz— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) June 5, 2025
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador took the stage at a national address, holding up a globe and tapping the Gulf’s rightful name: “They cannot delete our geography. Not with money. Not with maps. Not ever.”
With tensions rising, global leaders are watching closely as Mexico demands digital accountability in what many are calling a landmark moment in tech vs sovereignty. As of this writing, the label on Google Maps in the affected region still remains inconsistent.
