Mexico’s Foreign Relations Ministry has filed a lawsuit against Google for renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” on its U.S. platforms, arguing that only Mexico and its neighbors can determine the body of water’s official name.
Mexico’s government announced on May 9, 2025, that it has taken legal action against Google for labeling the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” on Google Maps and other U.S.-based platforms. President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed during her daily press briefing that Mexico’s Foreign Relations Ministry (Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores, SRE) filed a civil lawsuit in a federal court in Mexico City, though she did not disclose the specific judicial docket number or the detailed claims contained in the complaint.
The dispute stems from an executive order signed in February 2025 by former U.S. President Donald Trump, directing federal agencies to refer to the body of water separating the United States and Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” Mexico maintains that this decree has no legal effect beyond the U.S. continental shelf and does not authorize the unilateral renaming of an internationally recognized geographic feature. While the United States may, under domestic law, designate names for features within its own jurisdiction, Mexico argues that it retains exclusive authority to determine the official name for the gulf’s entirety.
According to reporting by El País, the SRE’s legal filing requests that the court order Google to distinguish clearly between the portions of the body of water linked to Mexico, the United States, and other bordering nations such as Cuba. Specifically, Mexico demands that Google maintain the name “Golfo de México” for all waters adjacent to Mexico and replace the “Gulf of America” label only on the U.S. continental shelf portion, if at all. The lawsuit follows previous diplomatic efforts in which the ministry sent formal letters to Google asking the company to refrain from adopting the U.S. naming convention for Mexican territorial waters.
At the heart of Mexico’s legal argument is the principle of territorial sovereignty and the right of coastal states to name adjacent maritime spaces. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), while the convention does not explicitly legislate naming conventions, it recognizes coastal states’ rights over territorial waters and exclusive economic zones. Mexico’s complaint asserts that Google’s non-consensual renaming of a body of water historically known as the Gulf of Mexico constitutes an infringement on its sovereign rights and misleads users about internationally recognized nomenclature.
Google, for its part, has indicated it will maintain its current labeling policy. In a letter shared publicly by President Sheinbaum in February, Cris Turner, Google’s Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy, explained that the company follows “longstanding maps policies impartially and consistently across all regions.” Google’s internal guidelines prioritize local naming conventions based on the user’s location, historical usage, and recognized standards from bodies such as the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). Turner’s letter emphasized that the change to “Gulf of America” reflects the company’s effort to adhere to the U.S. government’s directives for domestic users.
As a result, Google Maps presently displays the name “Gulf of America” for users accessing the platform from the United States, while users in Mexico and most other countries continue to see “Gulf of Mexico.” In some cases, users in third-party jurisdictions see a dual label: “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).” Mexico’s suit challenges this one-size-fits-all approach when applied to the region, arguing that it creates cartographic confusion and undermines the historical and cultural significance of the original name.
The name “Gulf of Mexico” dates back more than four centuries, first recorded in Spanish cartography in the 1500s as “Golfo de Méjico.” It has been adopted internationally in scientific literature, maritime charts, and by organizations such as the United Nations and the IHO. Renaming a well-established geographic term is rare and typically involves multilateral agreements; unilateral changes can sow confusion in navigation, fisheries management, and environmental policy. Mexico’s legal team highlights that, for nearly 500 years, the gulf’s name has been a symbol of shared history and cooperation among bordering nations—an understanding that Mexico contends the U.S. executive order and Google’s policy disregard.
Beyond the bilateral spat, there have been legislative efforts within the U.S. to cement the new name domestically. In April 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a nonbinding resolution urging federal agencies to use “Gulf of America” in official communications. The resolution enjoyed bipartisan support but is largely symbolic, as it does not alter map data managed by private companies. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene was among the resolution’s vocal advocates, framing the change as a matter of national pride and asserting that the previous name failed to properly reflect American stewardship of its continental shelf.
Internationally, the renaming has drawn skepticism. The IHO, which standardizes nautical chart names, has not endorsed the change. Likewise, the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN) continues to list the feature as the Gulf of Mexico. In Latin America and Europe, mapping services such as OpenStreetMap and Esri maintain the traditional nomenclature, suggesting that Google’s policy diverges from broader industry practices. Mexico’s lawsuit points to this inconsistency as evidence that Google’s labeling is not merely a neutral application of policy but a concession to U.S. political pressure.
Legal scholars observing the case note that it may set a precedent for how digital platforms handle politically sensitive naming disputes. “If Mexico prevails, it could force global tech companies to adopt more granular, country-specific naming schemas and to respect international naming conventions even when they conflict with powerful states’ domestic policies,” said Dr. María Fernández, an expert in maritime law at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). “The outcome will be closely watched by coastal nations in Asia, Africa, and Europe facing similar disputes.”
The lawsuit’s immediate next steps include Google’s formal response, expected within the next 30 days under Mexican civil procedure rules. Mexico is seeking injunctive relief to halt Google’s application of the “Gulf of America” label until the court reaches a final judgment. The government may also request monetary damages for any perceived harm to national image and diplomatic standing. Google has signaled that, if necessary, it will appeal any adverse decision to the Collegiate Court (Tribunal Colegiado), as noted in the El País report.
The broader implications of this case extend to issues of digital sovereignty and the role of private platforms in enforcing or resisting state-driven narratives. As mapping services become integral to commerce, navigation, and daily life, disputes over place names have real-world consequences—from shipping routes and environmental management to cultural heritage and tourism marketing. Mexico’s legal action underscores the tensions that arise when technology companies straddle the demands of various governments while maintaining a global service.
In the coming months, all eyes will be on the Mexican judiciary and Google’s willingness to defend its policy in court. A ruling in favor of Mexico could compel Google—and potentially other map providers—to implement more nuanced, country-specific labels for geographic features. Conversely, a victory for Google may embolden states to press private platforms for broader compliance with domestic naming edicts. Either way, the dispute marks a significant chapter in the evolving landscape of cartographic authority and the intersection of digital technology with international law.
