6d ago

Mexico asks Google to reject U.S. renaming of the Gulf of Mexico. (for this community, why is Google the defacto authority here?)

www.thecentersquare.com Mexico asks Google to reject U.S. renaming of the Gulf of Mexico

(The Center Square) – Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote a letter asking Google to reject the U.S. decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America on

cross-posted from: https://ponder.cat/post/1485960

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote a letter asking Google to reject the U.S. decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America on its mapping service.

Technology @lemmy.zip

Cat @ponder.cat

6d ago

Mexico asks Google to reject U.S. renaming of the Gulf of Mexico.

www.thecentersquare.com /national/article_5207d6e8-dff2-11ef-982b-473a9c2b3f18.html

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But why? Does anyone know an instance where local Google Maps version doesn’t follow local naming? Why would Google change it in Mexican version of Maps? Is Mexican president a Lemmy user?
[edit]
Oh no, I just realised Americans think there’s one version of Google maps and that we’re all using theirs. Didn’t think there’d be so many on Lemmy.
- If it's the same as the policy described here for Google Earth, then I think all English language speakers may get the change.
  Of course, the policy also says this, so maybe it's not relevant afterall:
  By saying "common", we mean to include names which are in widespread daily use, rather than giving immediate recognition to any arbitrary governmental re-naming. In other words, if a ruler announced that henceforth the Pacific Ocean would be named after her mother, we would not add that placemark unless and until the name came into common usage.
- Google still puts my map in miles and gives gas prices in gallons.... I am in Canada where we use neither.
  
  That sounds like a problem with your phone, not Google. It should absolutely be localized to c/ltr and kmph
  
  Well its been doing this for the last 4 or so phones now. I think its more an issue of it geolocating me to the States sometimes. Its more an annoyance at this point.
  
  Might be worth checking if you have this set to automatic and override if it still gives you trouble. I assume it could pulling your location imprecisely enough (due to border traffic as well) but that’s whole another issue without a good solution.
  
  I change it, but then half the time when it updates I am back in the silly units. I should really look for another map program
  
  Try organic maps! It's based on open street map data and doesn't track you.
- Americans have really exposed just how sheltered and self absorbed they are.

30 comments