Editing Google Maps (section)

=== Naming disputes ===
In 2012, BBC News reported that Google was facing potential legal action from Iran for its lack of a naming label for the [[Persian Gulf]] on Google Maps. The body of water was not labelled on the map; Iran said Google would see "serious damages" if the gulf was not named on the map.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iran 'to sue Google' for not labelling Gulf on world map |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-18108246 |access-date=26 April 2025 |work=BBC News |date=17 May 2012}}</ref> The gulf is the subject of a [[Persian Gulf naming dispute|naming dispute]]. By 2016, Google Maps displayed both Persian Gulf and Arabian Gulf on the body of water and showed "either Arabian or Persian Gulf to local users, depending on geolocation and language settings."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zraick |first1=Karen |title=Persian (or Arabian) Gulf Is Caught in the Middle of Regional Rivalries |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/13/world/middleeast/persian-gulf-arabian-gulf-iran-saudi-arabia.html |access-date=April 26, 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=January 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116063936/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/13/world/middleeast/persian-gulf-arabian-gulf-iran-saudi-arabia.html |archive-date=January 16, 2016}}</ref>

In February 2025, as a response to [[Donald Trump]]'s [[Executive Order 14172]], the [[Gulf of Mexico]] was relabeled to "Gulf of America" for US users and "Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)" elsewhere, except for Mexico itself where it remained the Gulf of Mexico. The decision received criticism, with Mexican president [[Claudia Sheinbaum]] asking Google to reconsider its decision,<ref>{{cite web |last=Hauari |first=Gabe |date=2025-01-31 |title=Mexico's president asks Google not to rename Gulf of Mexico |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2025/01/31/mexico-president-google-maps-rename-gulf-of-mexico-america/78080358007/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> and stating that her government would not rule out filing a [[civil lawsuit]] against Google.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sánchez |first=Fabiola |date=2025-02-14 |title=Mexico says it might sue Google over 'Gulf of America' name change on Maps |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/national-international/mexico-might-sue-google-gulf-of-america-change-maps/3793671/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=[[NBC Bay Area]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Google subsequently disabled user reviews of the gulf after the name change occurred; BBC News reported that "Google appears to have deleted some negative reviews left in the wake of its name change."<ref>{{Cite web |last=McMahon |first=Liv |date=2025-02-13 |title=Google Maps blocks Gulf of America reviews after rename criticism |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crlky380wd7o |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB |archive-date=February 15, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215013626/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crlky380wd7o |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dellinger |first=A. J. |date=2025-02-13 |title=Google Maps Won't Let You Leave Negative Reviews on the Gulf of America |url=https://gizmodo.com/google-maps-wont-let-you-leave-negative-reviews-on-the-gulf-of-america-2000563649 |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Gizmodo |language=en-US |archive-date=February 15, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215132007/https://gizmodo.com/google-maps-wont-let-you-leave-negative-reviews-on-the-gulf-of-america-2000563649 |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2025, Sheinbaum said a lawsuit had been filed against Google for its continued use of "Gulf of America" on Google Maps.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mexico sues Google over changing Gulf of Mexico’s name for US users |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/09/mexico-google-lawsuit-gulf-of-mexico |access-date=10 May 2025 |work=The Guardian |agency=Agence France-Press |date=10 May 2025}}</ref>

In April 2025, an update was released for Google Maps that more explicitly displayed the "[[West Philippine Sea]]" label for parts of the [[South China Sea]] claimed by the [[Philippines]]. The decision was praised by Filipino officials<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maitem |first=Jeoffrey |date=2025-04-15 |title=Manila praises Google's move to put 'West Philippine Sea' on the map |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3306575/manila-says-googles-west-philippine-sea-label-shows-global-support-its-stance |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=[[South China Morning Post]] |language=en}}</ref> but criticized by the [[Chinese Foreign Ministry]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kang |first=Taejun |date=2025-04-17 |title=Beijing, Manila at odds over Google Maps update on South China Sea |url=https://www.rfa.org/english/southchinasea/2025/04/17/south-chia-sea-west-philippines-google-maps/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=[[Radio Free Asia]] |language=en}}</ref> A Google spokesperson stated, "The West Philippine Sea has always been labeled on Google Maps. We recently made this label easier to see at additional zoom levels."<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCartney |first1=Micah |title=Beijing Responds to Google Label in South China Sea |url=https://www.newsweek.com/china-response-south-china-sea-west-philippine-sea-label-2060273 |access-date=22 April 2025 |work=Newsweek |date=17 April 2025}}</ref>