Google hit with widespread backlash for changing Lake Ontario's name on maps after US President Donald Trump’s orders.
According to Sky News, Google Maps renamed Lake Ontario as “Lake America” for the US users’ days after Trump signed the executive orders, despite Canada’s opposition.
Canadian province Ontario is on the north, west and southwest of the lake while US’ New York state is on the eastern and southern shore.
Trump signed orders to change name of the lake after escalating trade war with Canada failed talks.
Google breaks silence on changing Lake's name
Google, in a statement after renaming the lake, explained that changes were made after the US government’s Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) formally changed the name.
The company said, “People using Maps in the US will see 'Lake America,' those in Canada will continue to see 'Lake Ontario,' and those outside of the US and Canada will see both names. These updates follow our long-standing policy for bodies of water with names that vary from country to country and are starting to roll out now."
Meanwhile, as of Monday morning, August 31, the name still appeared as “Lake Ontario” for the UK users.
Users’ reaction
While several Trump supporters and the White House applauded the move, most of the users criticized the company and accused it of "bending the knees” to pressure from the Trump administration, reported The Independent.
Progressive media company MeidasTouch wrote on X, “Google Maps has now capitulated to Donald Trump and changed the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America.”
“So basically, they’ll allow any POTUS exec order to rename stuff. No reason he doesn’t just start renaming things after his friends,” another user added.
American political scientist Ian Bremmer, who noted that Apple Maps has not changed the name penned, said, “Google goes along with Trump's ‘Lake America' pronouncement. Apple thinking longer term.”
Canadian newspaper columnist Eric Reguly said, “Time to stop using @Google Cowards.”
Trump signed the executive orders to change the name on Thursday, August 27. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carey and Ontario premier Doug Ford strongly condemned the decision and vowed that it will always remain Lake Ontario.
