this post was submitted on 28 Jan 2025
283 points (95.5% liked)

World News

40018 readers
2335 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Summary

Google Maps will rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" for U.S. users following a U.S. government decision.

The U.S. Department of Interior recently announced the official name change, implemented by the Board on Geographic Names.

Google stated it updates names based on official government sources.

The name will remain "Gulf of Mexico" in Mexico and display both names elsewhere globally.

This change stems from an executive order by Trump, who also reversed the 2015 renaming of Alaska's Denali to Mount McKinley.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] DicJacobus@lemmy.world 32 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Google has no spine. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, they reclassified Crimea as Russian territory on the localized Russian version, and in a lot of locales they either flag it as disputed territory, or territory belonging to no nation.

you bet your ass they're going to do whatever Daddy tells them when it comes to the US. Lmao.

America isn't a sovereign nation anymore, its a slave state beholden to Corpo Syndicates, The Russian Mafia, and Israel. Trump is just a dumbass they put in front of the camera to serve as a public face to the shadow mafia.

[–] Hegar@fedia.io 106 points 3 days ago (7 children)

Well google maps can fuck right off, the cowards. What are everyone's recommendations for alternatives?

[–] NaibofTabr@infosec.pub 40 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Depends.

If you just want a map to find things, OsmAnd is good.

If you want to prepare hiking/biking trail maps and then download them for offline use, Alpi Maps is really nice.

If you want useful navigation that includes traffic data and gets the realistic arrival time close to correct, Magic Earth is really the only option (traffic time estimates depend on users agreeing to share their location data while using ME for navigation so that it can make traffic speed assessments - quality will depend on how many other ME users in your area have agreed to share their data).

All 3 ultimately depend on OpenStreetMap for their map data. If you use them, consider creating an account and contributing with a tool like StreetComplete.

If you want something that has locations of businesses &etc with accurate names, operating hours, contact information, pictures of the location, street view, user reviews... there are no alternatives.

[–] errer@lemmy.world 11 points 3 days ago

OSM will rename the Gulf Of Mexico eventually as well, by policy. See towards the end of this long discussion thread: https://community.openstreetmap.org/t/gulf-of-america-gulf-of-mexico/124571/73

[–] viking@infosec.pub 7 points 3 days ago

Organic maps on fdroid. Using open street maps and have a pretty good UI, and offline maps.

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 30 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Open Street Maps is a thing. Use it.

It's also publicly editable and used to generate a bunch of other maps - even for government use. It would be a damned shame if people created burner accounts and started renaming things owned by Trump and Musk...

[–] TheFriar@lemm.ee 7 points 2 days ago

Organic maps is the one I use

[–] jol@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

OSM will also eventually change it. It's the official name of the gulf in the US. Like it or not, that's the reality. Just like how English maps show "Japan" written over the country called Nihon.

[–] FooBarrington@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

No, they won't. They'll introduce additional names, but the gulf itself will not be renamed.

https://community.openstreetmap.org/t/gulf-of-america-gulf-of-mexico/124571/102

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] tiefling@lemmy.blahaj.zone 74 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Sundar really likes kissing the ring

[–] assassinatedbyCIA@lemmy.world 25 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

It’s pretty difficult to kiss the ring when it’s all the way down on the base of the penis. It must be tough on him.

[–] P00ptart@lemmy.world 24 points 3 days ago

Did you not hear stormy Daniels account? It really wouldn't be that tough.

[–] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 13 points 3 days ago

One of the defining characteristics of a fascist state is requiring economic entities to align with state interests.

[–] driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br 44 points 3 days ago

Kind of expected, Google maps show you a different version depending of where you are, aligning with your government position.

[–] meathorse@lemmy.world 36 points 3 days ago (6 children)

Well, if that's how it works, every country now needs to renames the US to something else on their maps. Whoever has the best name wins something - like, the Olympics or free membership to the UN.

Suggestions now open, I'll start: "Little Girls Blouse"

[–] Mad_Punda@feddit.org 17 points 3 days ago (1 children)

United States of Oligarchs

That’s a bit boring though. Maybe they could put out a call for sponsors every week, the winner gets to name it. We’d get names like:

  • United States of Amazon
  • X
  • Murica
  • iMerica (designed by Apple in California, assembled in China)

Which should drive home the point.
Would also help government funding.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Cruxifux@feddit.nl 6 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I already refer to the states as “dumbfuckistan” or “burgerland” to people I talk to IRL when I refer to the states and most people know where I’m talking about with little context. So that’s my suggestion.

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] KoalaUnknown@lemmy.world 20 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Google is just asking people to switch to Organic maps with this one.

Apple maps for those wondering:

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] LordCrom@lemmy.world 27 points 3 days ago

This is some next level dumb shit.

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 25 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The important part is "for US users". The rest of the world does not care about Trumps childish tantrums.

[–] Floodedwomb@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago

Honestly, we don't either.

[–] Arghblarg@lemmy.ca 35 points 3 days ago (1 children)

IMO it should be called the Chicxulub Gulf, since the most significant thing to happen there, objectively speaking, was the end of the Cretaceous.

[–] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 14 points 3 days ago

Deepwater Horizon Gulf

[–] hungryphrog@lemmy.blahaj.zone 14 points 2 days ago
[–] Geobloke@lemm.ee 22 points 3 days ago

Good to know that the US needs it's own safe space haha

[–] dev_null@lemmy.ml 12 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Did anyone read the tweet? They are defending their decision not to change the name, because the change isn't official. No, they haven't "announced they will change the name".

Yeah, you can logically conclude based on that that they will update it once it's official, but the reporting is the opposite of what they said.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] GeneralEmergency@lemmy.world 20 points 3 days ago (2 children)

You can really tell how sheltered yanks are with this news.

This is pretty standard for Google maps. Names of locations change depending on what version of maps you use.

Google will use the official data from the government of whatever region it is, and the government Americans voted for changed the name.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 22 points 3 days ago

No, we yanks are familiar with this policy. We just think capitulating to this performative nonsense is ridiculous.

[–] 13esq@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

But I want Google to stick it to bad orange man, Google should represent me not official data, Google is a Nazi company!!! 😭😭😭

[–] Siegfried@lemmy.world 14 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I will start calling the US Mexico of the North

[–] Zedstrian@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 3 days ago

Switched to Apple Maps a few months ago, just one more reason to never switch back.

[–] zipzoopaboop@lemmynsfw.com 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] 13esq@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Whilst I see where you're coming from, is there literally anything for Google to gain by being a stick in the mud over the issue? It'll probably get changed back in a few years time.

[–] plaguesandbacon@lemmy.ca 20 points 3 days ago

Small dick energy

[–] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 11 points 3 days ago

Stupid is as stupid does.

[–] ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world 12 points 3 days ago

Get ready for some other bootlicking from Google, then Trump will write an executive order to drop the antitrust cases against Google.

[–] viking@infosec.pub 19 points 3 days ago

Pulling a Xi, are we? Amazing to see where the orange overlord is getting his inspiration from.

[–] Lupus@feddit.org 18 points 3 days ago (4 children)

I kind of get the whole 'Gulf of America's, at least conceptionally, America is the continent yada yada yada, it's fine, it's silly but fine.

But the Mount McKinley stuff is really baffling to me. Afaik McKinley never even visited Alaska during his presidency, alaskans themselves tried to change the name since at least the 1980s and the only thing that stood in the way was Ohio, as McKinleys home state, blocking the name change, until in 2015 they eventually relented and the name was changed back to its original indigenous name.

Why would they change it arbitrarily again? I don't understand? Is it just racism and it by chance happened during Obama's presidency?

[–] crank0271@lemmy.world 32 points 3 days ago

If you consider the most petty possible explanation for any of these "actions," you'll always be at least partially, if not entirely, correct.

[–] dohpaz42@lemmy.world 17 points 3 days ago

Why would they change it arbitrarily again? I don't understand?

I firmly believe that Trump and friends are having a grand time trolling the world as petty revenge for losing 2020.

In other words, there is no reason other than they can do it and we can do nothing about it.

[–] spongebue@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Honestly, it's the other way around for me. To be clear, Denali is a much better name than Mount McKinley for multiple reasons, but at least it's our mountain and it was named Mount McKinley at one time.

Gulf of America is just a dumb power move that came out of nowhere, and it's a body of water shared by multiple countries. It's not like this is the only gulf named after only one country it touches out of a few - see also the Gulf of Oman and Gulf of Thailand, for example

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Zier@fedia.io 12 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The majority of the Gulf is not owned by a nation. There are legal boundaries. The US cannot dictate the name. As usual, trump is an idiot.

[–] Alue42@fedia.io 9 points 3 days ago

But it can dictate how federal agencies refer to geographic regions.

A private company or private citizen can do as it sees fits.

[–] jaggedrobotpubes@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago

This is what we call "bitch behavior".

It's the Gulf of Mexico.

[–] EvilBit@lemmy.world 8 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Google has sucked for a very long time. They’re greedy, monopolistic sociopaths that scrubbed “don’t be evil” from their principles pretty much the second there was a buck to be had from it.

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments
view more: next ›