Google Maps has disabled user reviews for the Gulf of Mexico following intense criticism over its decision to rename the body of water “Gulf of America” for U.S. users. The change, which came into effect on Wednesday, was made after an executive order from former President Donald Trump directed U.S. government agencies to update official documents with the new name.
Now, users clicking on the Gulf’s label in Google Maps are met with a message stating that “posting is currently turned off.” Google has also been accused of deleting negative reviews left in response to the renaming.
Google Defends Its Decision
In a statement, Google defended its actions, saying it regularly restricts contributions when it anticipates a surge in content that is “off-topic or unrelated to someone’s direct experience with the place.” The company also pointed to its 2023 blog post detailing how it handles fake reviews and policy-violating content.
Despite this explanation, social media users claim that hundreds of one-star reviews criticizing the name change have been removed, with some accusing Google of censorship. The most recent visible review for the Gulf of Mexico on Google Maps appears to be a month old.
The controversy has fueled broader concerns about big tech companies altering historical names and taking actions perceived as politically motivated.
The Rise of “Review-Bombing”
Google’s move to disable reviews follows a growing trend of “review-bombing,” where users flood businesses or locations with negative ratings as a form of online protest.
In December 2024, Google removed derogatory reviews from a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania after it became associated with the arrest of Luigi Mangione, who was charged with the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Similar tactics have been used in political and financial disputes. In 2020, critics of Trump’s proposal to ban TikTok left thousands of negative reviews on his re-election campaign app, causing its rating to drop on Apple’s App Store. In 2021, retail investors who supported GameStop’s stock targeted trading apps like Robinhood, which had restricted their ability to buy shares during a financial market upset.
Mexico Pushes Back, Apple Follows Google’s Lead
The name change has also sparked political tensions, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum formally requesting that Google reverse the decision in a letter sent in late January.
Google has stated that its renaming policy follows official U.S. government sources and clarified that the Gulf’s name will remain unchanged in Mexico. In the rest of the world, users will see “Gulf of America” displayed in brackets alongside the existing name.
Meanwhile, Apple has also changed the Gulf’s label on Apple Maps for U.S. users, aligning itself with Google’s decision. The White House celebrated the move on Wednesday, sharing a screenshot of Apple Maps displaying “Gulf of America” instead of the traditional name.
Big Tech Faces Scrutiny Over Political Influence
Critics argue that major technology firms are making policy decisions to align with the Trump administration.
In January, Meta announced plans to remove U.S. fact-checkers and scale back global content moderation policies. Around the same time, Google, Amazon, and other major corporations rolled back diversity recruitment programs, further fueling speculation that Silicon Valley is adjusting to the political landscape ahead of the 2024 U.S. election.
As backlash over the Gulf of America controversy continues, Google’s handling of the situation has placed it at the center of an ongoing debate about corporate influence, free speech, and political neutrality in the digital age.
