Google Maps Disables Gulf of America Reviews After Controversy Over Name Change

Google Maps has recently halted user reviews for the Gulf of Mexico following backlash over its decision to rename the body of water to "Gulf of America" for users in the United States. The name change, implemented after an executive order from President Donald Trump, has sparked widespread criticism, with many questioning the move and leaving negative reviews in protest.

Now, attempting to post a review for the Gulf on Google Maps results in a message stating that "posting is currently turned off." In addition, numerous critical reviews appear to have been removed, further fueling concerns about online censorship and platform manipulation.

Why Did Google Change the Name?

The renaming stems from an order by the U.S. government, which directed official documents to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. Following this directive, Google updated its Maps service to reflect the change, aligning with its long-standing policy of adapting location names based on official government records.

The update, however, was not applied globally. While users in the U.S. now see "Gulf of America" on Google Maps, the name remains unchanged in Mexico and other countries. In some regions, Google has opted for a hybrid approach, displaying "Gulf of America" in parentheses next to "Gulf of Mexico."

Google’s Response to the Backlash

Facing criticism over the name update, Google defended its actions, stating that it regularly implements protective measures during times of heightened public interest. The company claims that disabling reviews is standard practice when there is a spike in off-topic or unrelated contributions, especially those unrelated to a user’s actual experience with a location.

Google also pointed to its existing policies on content moderation, referencing a 2023 blog post outlining the removal of policy-violating content—including fake reviews and review-bombing campaigns. According to the company, limiting contributions or removing certain reviews helps prevent abuse of its platforms.

Despite this explanation, users on social media have accused Google of censorship, arguing that the company is selectively removing critical reviews to control the narrative surrounding the renaming.

The Rise of "Review Bombing" as Online Protest

The controversy surrounding the Gulf of America renaming is just the latest example of "review bombing," a tactic where large groups of users leave one-star ratings or negative reviews as a form of digital protest.

This method has been used frequently in recent years, particularly when companies or organizations make controversial decisions:

In December, Google removed derogatory reviews from a McDonald's in Pennsylvania, where a suspect in a high-profile murder case had been arrested.
During the 2020 U.S. presidential election, critics of Trump’s attempt to ban TikTok allegedly flooded his campaign app with negative reviews on Apple's App Store.
In 2021, GameStop traders targeted stock-trading apps like Robinhood after the platform restricted trades during the infamous stock surge, leading to a barrage of low ratings.

Now, Google’s decision to delete critical reviews of the Gulf’s name change has been met with backlash, with critics claiming it is yet another example of big tech companies suppressing dissent.

Did Google Admit to Deleting Reviews?

Reports indicate that hundreds of one-star reviews left on the Gulf’s location page have been removed. On Thursday, Forbes suggested that Google "tacitly admitted" to the removals, though the company has not explicitly confirmed or denied it.

The growing controversy has led to questions about transparency in how major tech firms handle user feedback. The removal of negative reviews suggests that Google is actively moderating content related to politically sensitive topics, sparking debate over whether the company is protecting its platform from manipulation or suppressing legitimate user opinions.

Political Reactions: Mexico Pushes Back on Name Change

The name change has not gone unnoticed by Mexico’s government. President Claudia Sheinbaum has formally requested that Google not rename the Gulf, arguing that such a historically and geographically significant location should not be altered for political reasons.

The Mexican president sent an official letter to Google in January, urging the company to maintain the original designation of "Gulf of Mexico", emphasizing its importance to both Mexico and the international community.

So far, Google has not publicly responded to the request, and the change remains in place for U.S. users.

Apple Also Implements the Name Change

Google is not the only major tech company to update its maps in line with the U.S. government directive. Apple Maps has also changed the name for American users, reflecting "Gulf of America" instead of "Gulf of Mexico."

The White House acknowledged the update in a post on X (formerly Twitter), sharing a screenshot of Apple Maps with the updated name, signaling its approval of the change.

This move has further ignited debate over whether tech companies are too quick to comply with political directives, with critics arguing that big tech firms risk aligning themselves too closely with government policies for strategic or financial reasons.

Big Tech and the Trump Administration: Favoritism or Compliance?

Google’s decision to rename the Gulf—and its handling of review removals—comes at a time when major technology firms are facing increased scrutiny over their relationship with political leaders.

Some analysts believe companies like Google, Apple, and Meta (formerly Facebook) are making policy shifts to stay in the Trump administration’s good graces. In recent months:

Meta (Facebook’s parent company) scaled back its U.S. fact-checking operations and reduced its global content moderation efforts.
Google and Amazon adjusted their hiring policies, with both companies reportedly pulling back on diversity recruitment programs.
Several Silicon Valley firms have softened their stances on misinformation policies, leading some to speculate they are adapting to align with the administration’s expectations.

While these changes may be coincidental or part of broader corporate strategies, critics argue that they show how tech giants may shift policies to accommodate political climates—a concern that has been raised across both conservative and liberal administrations.

What Happens Next? Will Google Reverse the Change?

As of now, Google has not signaled any intention to revert the name change, and the ban on new reviews for the Gulf of America remains in place. However, public pressure, political opposition from Mexico, and ongoing scrutiny of Google’s content moderation policies may influence future decisions.

The broader debate over how tech companies handle politically sensitive changes—and whether they should modify historical or geographical names at the request of governments—is likely to continue, particularly as digital platforms wield more power in shaping public perception.

For now, users who disagree with the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico will have to look beyond Google reviews to voice their frustration—but history suggests that when a name change is unpopular, online backlash doesn’t disappear, it simply finds another outlet.