Thu, 13 Feb 2025

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 Google Maps blocks Gulf of America reviews after rename criticism

It controversially updated the Gulf's name for US users after President Trump ordered it to be changed.
Google Maps has blocked reviews on its Gulf of Mexico location after controversy erupted over its decision to label it "Gulf of America" for US users. The tech giant made the change at the behest of President Donald Trump, who ordered it in official government documents. However, Google now claims that the increase in negative reviews prompted it to disable posting on the location. Critics have accused Google of censorship, with some claiming hundreds of one-star reviews were removed. In response, users have taken to posting negative reviews of the Google Maps app itself on Apple's App Store, describing the labels as "factually inaccurate". This tactic, known as "review-bombing", has been used in the past by individuals and groups to protest against companies or businesses featured on Google Search or Maps. The company had previously faced criticism over its handling of derogatory reviews, including a case involving a McDonald's location. Forbes reported that Google may have tacitly admitted to removing reviews critical of the Gulf location's renaming, although the BBC has yet to receive confirmation from the company. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote a letter to Google in January asking it not to rename the Gulf and threatened to sue if the change was implemented. Apple has since followed suit by changing its own Maps app to display "Gulf of America" for US users.
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