Google Maps updated the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, a change made by the Trump administration, for map users in the United States.
Shortly after the update to Google Maps, critics said they attempted to leave negative reviews about the newly renamed body of water.
Social media users said they made one-star reviews before Google removed the ratings option on maps.
Google is now censoring us.
In the post 👇🏻literally hundreds said gave a 1 star review on Gulf of Mexico name change, yet today I appear the only one. Others saying same.
Also not allowing reports of a naming error.
Pretty shocking,@google #ChangeYourSearchEngine pic.twitter.com/s07SMIzXsE— Dr Jill Belch (@JillBelch) February 13, 2025
Review-bombing has become a political practice of targeting businesses and companies involved in top political news stories.
Google has had to navigate activists descending their map locations, including at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania in December, where Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the United Healthcare CEO murder, was arrested. Google Maps removed derogatory reviews that attempted to attack the business at the center of the story.
On Monday, Mexico denounced Google’s labeling of the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America for U.S.-based users as “incorrect.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is threatening to take Google to court.
“What Google is doing here is changing the name of the continental shelf of Mexico and Cuba, which has nothing to do with Trump’s decree, which applied only to the US continental shelf,” Sheinbaum said to the press. “We do not agree with this, and the Foreign Minister has sent a new letter addressing the issue.”
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In a Feb. 10 release, Google Maps said inside the U.S., the name would be updated to Gulf of America while people in Mexico would see Gulf of Mexico.
“Everyone else will see both names,” said Google Maps.
