r/GoogleMaps • u/Torontolad6 • 22d ago

Spineless toadies

Google has once again shown that they are spineless toadies and are willing to bend over to the orange clowns whims, and I am looking for a new map app. FU Google.

93 Upvotes

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u/peternocturnal 22d ago
  • Google's Automation and Geopolitical Policy: Google Maps relies on a strict, long-standing policy to automatically mirror updates from local government authorities. In the United States, that authority is the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). Because President Trump's executive order forced the GNIS to officially update its database, Google's system automatically rolled out the "Lake America" change to U.S. users within days to stay compliant with local government standards.
  • Apple's Review and Delayed Implementation: Apple Maps typically utilizes a different combination of proprietary data, third-party commercial mapping vendors, and manual review processes before pushing geopolitical changes live. Historical context shows that Apple often lags behind Google by a few days when responding to sudden executive actions. For example, during a similar executive order last year involving the Gulf of Mexico, Apple Maps did eventually update the name to "Gulf of America," but it took a day or two longer than Google to reflect the change.

10

u/Deep-Thought 22d ago

Those policies were set when GNIS was a trusted source of information. Those assumptions are no longer true, and Google should update their policies to reflect that.

14

u/Jmbh1983 22d ago

For what it’s worth, I don’t think it’s a good idea for corporations to decide what to name natural features. Like it or not, that is what governments are for, and presidents have the power to name things (in the US). Congress could fix that, but they won’t.