TheLittleTwentieth – Renowned Papers Edition, AI Infused

Local sources from Mexico: EL PAÍS, Digital Trends Español.
UK coverage: The Guardian.

In a move that has escalated tensions between Mexico and the United States, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has taken legal action against tech giant Google. The lawsuit stems from Google’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico to ‘Gulf of America’ for its U.S. users, a change that was first prompted by a policy from the Trump administration. This controversial decision came into the spotlight after the U.S. House of Representatives, with a strong push from Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, passed a bill to officially codify the name change. Despite the bill lacking the necessary Democratic support to pass in the Senate, the move has sparked significant backlash from Mexico, leading to the lawsuit against Google. President Sheinbaum has pointed out that the United States does not have the authority to rename the entire gulf, emphasizing that any name changes should only apply to the portion of the continental shelf that belongs to the U.S. She even humorously suggested that the U.S. be renamed ‘Mexican America,’ in reference to historical territories, highlighting the absurdity of the unilateral name change. The lawsuit, filed in Mexico City’s Superior Court of Justice, demands that Google immediately revert the name back to the Gulf of Mexico on its platforms, including Google Maps and Google Earth. The court has already ruled in favor of Mexico, ordering Google to cease the circulation of any images or legends that promote the ‘Gulf of America’ in relation to Mexican and international geography. This legal action signifies a strong stance against what Mexico perceives as a violation of its sovereignty, ignited by a policy from former U.S. President Donald Trump. As the situation unfolds, it reflects the ongoing trade disagreements and tensions between the U.S. and Mexico, with the name change of the gulf being a symbolic yet significant point of contention.