This photo illustration shows the “Gulf of America” displayed on the Google Earth application on a smartphone on February 11, 2025, in Washington, DC. Mexico will take Google to court if it insists on changing the Gulf of Mexico‘s name to “Gulf ofAmerica” for Maps users in the United States, President Claudia Sheinbaum said on February 17, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Mexico said on Monday it’s awaiting a new response from Google to its request that the tech company fully restore the name Gulf of Mexico to its Google Maps service before filing a lawsuit.

President Claudia Sheinbaum shared a letter addressed to her government from Cris Turner, Google’s vice-president of government affairs and public policy. It says that Google will not change the policy it outlined after US President Donald Trump declared the body of water the Gulf of America.

“We will wait for Google’s response and if not, we will proceed to court,” Sheinbaum said during a morning press briefing.

As it stands, the gulf appears in Google Maps as Gulf of America within the US, as Gulf of Mexico within Mexico and Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America) elsewhere. Turner in his letter said the company was using Gulf of America to follow “longstanding maps policies impartially and consistently across all regions” and that the company was willing to meet in person with the Mexican government.

“While international treaties and conventions are not intended to regulate how private mapping providers represent geographic features, it is our consistent policy to consult multiple authoritative sources to provide the most up to date and accurate representation of the world,” he wrote.

Mexico has argued that the mapping policy violates Mexican sovereignty because the US only has jurisdiction over around 46 per cent of the Gulf. The rest is controlled by Mexico, which controls 49 per cent and Cuba, which controls around 5 per cent. The name Gulf of Mexico dates back to 1607 and is recognised by the United Nations.

In response to Google’s letter, Mexican authorities said they would take legal action, writing that “under no circumstance will Mexico accept the renaming of a geographic zone within its own territory and under its jurisdiction”.

The renaming of the body of water by Trump has flared tensions between Mexico and the US at a pivotal time for the neighbouring allies.

Sheinbaum has had to walk a fine line with Trump amid threats of tariffs and Mexico and other Latin American countries have braced themselves for promised mass deportations, the brunt of which has still not been felt.

Along with the legal threat to Google, the Mexican president also announced on Monday that Mexico and the US would hold high-level meetings this week on trade and security in an effort to maintain a “long-term plan of collaboration” between the two countries.

It’s the latest round of talks between the two countries in which Mexico hopes to hold off a larger geopolitical crisis.

The renaming of the water body has fuelled strife within the US as well.

Last week, the White House barred AP reporters from several events, including some in the Oval Office, saying it was because of the news agency’s policy on the name. The AP is using Gulf of Mexico to ensure that names of geographical features are recognisable around the world but also acknowledging Trump’s renaming of it as well.

Other journalistic organisations such as the White House Correspondents’ Organization and the New York Times have echoed the AP in raising alarm about press freedom violations. (AP) SZM

Bareilly:

Two French tourists cycling from Delhi to Kathmandu got lost and reached near Churaili Dam here, police said on Friday. The two were spotted by some villagers cycling at night and taken to Churaili police outpost.

Police lodged the cyclists at the village Pradhan’s house for the night and sent them on their way on Friday with route instructions.

Baheri Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh said French citizens Brian Jacques Gilbert and Sebastian Francois Gabriel had come to Delhi from France by flight on January 7.

“They had to go to Kathmandu in Nepal via Tanakpur from Pilibhit. Both foreigners were waylaid by Google Maps in the dark. The app showed them a shortcut via Baheri in Bareilly, due to which they got lost and reached Churaili Dam,” the CO said.

“When the villagers saw both the foreigners roaming on bicycles on a deserted road at 11 pm Thursday, they could not understand their language. To avoid any incident with the two foreigners, they took both of them to the Churaili police outpost,” Singh said.

When Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya came to know about the matter, he spoke to both the French tourists and instructed police to guide them to their destination. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A man and a woman were arrested on charges related to the murder of a 32-year-old Cuban man in a small village in northern Spain. A dramatic twist in the case was found when Google Street View took a picture that became the only clue the investigators needed.

The victim, identified as Jorge Luis Perez, was allegedly killed in the village of Andaluz, where part of his dismembered body was later discovered buried. Authorities suspect the arrested individuals are a Cuban man seen on camera and his ex-wife, who was also once married to the victim.

The male suspect resides in the nearby village of Tajueco, which locals describe as a quiet place where “nothing ever happens,” according to El Pais. The arrests have sent shockwaves through the region, raising questions about the role of technology in solving crimes.

Police continue to investigate the chilling case as the rural community grapples with the tragic revelations.

A spokesman for Spanish National Police told The Metro: “National Police officers have detained two people allegedly involved in the disappearance and death of a man who was reported missing in November last year by a relative. That relative had grown suspicious about messages he had received purporting to be from the missing man.”

“Part of the victim’s remains have been found buried in a cemetery in Andaluz in Soria using ‘advanced techniques.One of the clues investigators were working with was images from an online search location application.”

They added: “The messages the missing man’s family received said he met a girl and was getting rid of his telephone. This made the relative suspect someone else was sending the messages and that led to him alerting police.”

A family from Bihar, on their way to Goa for a holiday, had to ensure a harrowing night in the Bhimgad forest in Karnataka’s Belagavi district after relying on Google Maps for directions.

Ranjit Das and his family were driving towards Goa when the navigation app suggested a route through the Shiroli and Hemmadaga areas. Unaware of the impending ordeal, they followed the instructions, which led them 7-8 kilometres deep into the dense Bhimgad forest. The incident occurred late on the night of December 4.

With no mobile network in the area, the family reportedly found themselves stranded and unable to call for assistance. Forced to spend the night in their vehicle, they remained isolated in the unfamiliar and potentially dangerous terrain.

The next day, Mr Das walked nearly four kilometres in search of mobile connectivity.

Finally regaining network coverage, he contacted emergency services through the helpline number, 112. Responding to his call, the local police arrived and rescued the family.

Khanapur police inspector Manjunath Nayak reportedly said that after Mr Das regained mobile connectivity and contacted emergency services.

“The Belagavi police control room passed the information to the Khanapur police, who used GPS coordinates to locate the family and reach them with the help of villagers,” Mr Nayak was quoted as saying in media reports.

He further mentioned that the family was fortunate to find mobile connectivity, as the forest is home to diverse wildlife, with a recent bear attack in the area leaving a farmer seriously injured.

This isn’t the first time Google Maps has come under scrutiny for inaccurate information. In late November, the authorities launched an investigation into Google Maps after three men died when their car drove off an incomplete bridge while following a route suggested by the app. The incident occurred as the group was heading to a wedding in Uttar Pradesh. Police reported that the driver, relying on Google Maps, drove the car off the bridge and into a river.

Before that, in August 2024, a X user, Ashish Kacholia, shared his experience after he missed a flight from Bengaluru to Mumbai due to the app’s flawed prediction. Mr Kacholia, who was travelling from HSR Layout to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), a journey of over 50 kilometres, noted that Google Maps estimated a travel time of 1 hour and 45 minutes. But the trip took him three hours, causing him to miss his flight.

Bareilly:

Three persons were on Tuesday injured when their car fell into a dry canal in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district allegedly after following a “shortcut” route on Google Maps.

The incident took place when they were travelling from Bareilly to Pilibhit and took a detour by following the popular navigation system near Kalapur village.

They were rescued when the villagers spotted them and called the police. The three persons sustained minor injuries and were taken to the hospital.

“They had taken a shortcut when they saw it on Google Maps. They followed the directions but their car fell into a canal,” Superintendent of Police (city) Manush Parik said in a video statement.

The car, registered in Haryana, was pulled out of the canal with the help of a tractor, Mr Parik said.

Second Google Maps Related Accident In 10 Days

Last month, three people died when their car fell into the river from a partially constructed bridge in the same district.

Their car, being navigated using Google Maps, climbed onto a damaged bridge and plunged into the Ramganga river flowing 50 feet below in Faridpur when it was travelling from Bareilly to Dataganj in the Badaun district on November 24.

“Earlier this year, floods had caused the front portion of the bridge to collapse into the river, but this change had not been updated in the GPS. As a result, the driver was misled and did not realize the bridge was unsafe,” an official said.

“In addition, the absence of safety barriers or warning signs on the under-construction bridge compounded the danger, leading to the fatal accident,” he said.

New Delhi:

Google said Tuesday it was assisting Indian authorities probing the deaths of three men who reportedly drove off an incomplete bridge while following a route on Google Maps.

The group was on their way to a wedding in Uttar Pradesh state when their car plunged into the Ramganga river from the unfinished bridge early Sunday.

The driver followed Google Maps into taking the route, police officials said.

Police questioned an unnamed official from the navigation app, as well as others from the government public works department, the Press Trust of India news agency also reported.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to the families. We’re working closely with the authorities and providing our support to investigate the issue,” a Google spokesperson told AFP in an emailed statement.

A local police officer said that a portion of the bridge had been damaged during a flood last year.

The accident comes a year after two doctors were killed in the southern state of Kerala when their car plunged into the state’s Periyar river after they followed the app.
 

Kottayam, Kerala:

Using Google maps to navigate resulted in a tourist group from Hyderabad driving into a stream swollen with water near Kuruppanthara in this south Kerala district, police said today.

The incident occurred late Friday night when the four-member group, including a woman, were going towards Alappuzha.

The road they were travelling on was covered by water overflowing from the stream due to the heavy rains and since the tourists were unfamiliar with the area, they drove right into the water body while navigating using Google maps, they said.

All four managed to escape unharmed due to the rescue efforts of a nearby police patrolling unit and local residents, but their vehicle sank.

“Efforts are on to pull out the vehicle,” an officer of Kaduthuruthy police station said.

This is not the first such incident reported in Kerala.

In October last year, two young doctors died in a car accident which occurred after they allegedly followed directions on Google Maps and fell into a river.

Following the incident, the Kerala police had issued cautionary guidelines for using the technology during the monsoon season.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Tokyo:

Around 60 doctors in Japan have accused Google Maps of ignoring vitriolic reviews of their clinics in a class-action lawsuit touted as the first of its kind.

The medics are seeking 1.4 million yen ($9,000) in total damages from Google in a bid to hold the US tech titan accountable for inaction over the reviews.

They sued the company on Thursday, saying they are powerless to reply to, or refute, reputation-damaging reviews because of their obligation to patient confidentiality.

“People who post online can say anything anonymously, even if it’s nothing but slander or verbal abuse”, one of the participating doctors told reporters.

“It’s like I’m a punching bag,” he said under anonymity.

The case at Tokyo District Court is believed to be the first class-action lawsuit in Japan to target a platform over negative online reviews, a lawyer for the plaintiffs said.

“Despite the ease with which they are posted, it has become extremely difficult to get the reviews taken down,” lawyer Yuichi Nakazawa told AFP.

“This can lead to doctors doing their job under the constant fear of receiving horrible reviews”, he said.

The objective of many medical institutions is not to satisfy patients, but to deal with their illnesses from a professional standpoint, the plaintiffs’ complaint said.

“Clinics that give patients only a perfunctory diagnosis and prescribe medicines as requested would be inappropriate medically, but highly appreciated by patients,” it said.

The nature of the job can also sometimes leave doctors susceptible to ad hominem online attacks by patients holding a grudge, plaintiffs argued.

If the situation remains unaddressed, doctors “may find themselves hesitant to be firm and refuse medically unnecessary examinations or medicines requested by patients,” Nakazawa warned.

That ultimately does society a disservice, he argued.

Google Maps is so widely used in Japan that it serves as “infrastructure” for daily life, according to the complaint.

So Google should be able to “easily recognise” the disadvantages to medical businesses if unfair reviews are left unaddressed, it said.

The plaintiffs acknowledged that Google takes down some Maps reviews under its own guidelines, but criteria for removal is opaque and “few” are deleted, they alleged.

Google told AFP it is “making efforts to reduce inaccurate and misleading content on Google Maps”.

“With the combination of human operators and computers, we are protecting the profile of companies around the clock, and removing unjust reviews”, the company said.

 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)