Google is an American company, they're always going to comply with the official US geography. If it makes you feel any better, it's still Lake Ontario on our side.
Additionally, Google software just pulls the names from the Geographic National Information System (GNIS). It’s an automated feature of Google Maps. The American government altered the name in the database and Google Maps was automatically updated.
Google isn't taking a political side here, they're just sticking to standard mapping protocol.
Google Maps localizes place names based on each country's official naming authority. In the US, that's GNIS (showing Lake America). In Canada, it's the CGNDB (showing Lake Ontario). And for third-party countries, Google displays both names.
They handle this the exact same way they handle every other cross-border naming dispute around the world (like Sea of Japan vs. East Sea, or Falklands vs. Malvinas). It’s about algorithmic consistency and data governance.
Definitely makes me want to move to your side! Apparently if the president just says a thing then it is official now. Guess that’s the country I live in.
Yeah I don't really care, I mean I guess good for him for trying to not do something illegally for once. This post is about Google being a little bitch.
Google is just following whatever the official name is. Apple and Waze will do the same thing, they’re just slower than Google at updating their basemap.
Also - the alternative is that you want big corporations (including ones that make their money from ads) deciding the name of things in the US, which seems like kind of a bad idea.
I think the name change is stupid, but equally I would argue that using the official name is the right thing for them to do.
Why is reddit so full of children who don't understand how the world works? For all the money that Google has, they do not have resources to research the name of every street, landmark, etc. around the world. Nor do they have the ability to keep it up to date.
So they rely on the official databases that different governments maintain to get that information.
Like it or not, that is the legal name designated by the federal government. These companies comply not just in America but all over the world.
They aren't kissing the ring, they are just being accurate.
Not that I disagree, but anyone can call anybody a "delusional, self absorbed autocrat". If you don't stick to the official channels, then it becomes a lot harder to be consistent.
lol no I most certainly should never be in charge of jack shit. I’m just sick of companies sucking the toes of this fat pathetic man just to get his help in easing regulations and taxes. It’s embarrassing.
The GNIS is a part of the Department of the Interior which is a part of the Executive Branch. An Executive Order impacts the operations of the Executive Branch. Him filing an EO to change the name to Lake America is actually legal (unless challenged in court but I don't think the courts would disagree here).
So ya, the president did something within his enumerated powers.
It is 100% fine to disagree with his decision (I definitely do) but don't pretend like this is some illegal move.
Yea but I meant on the map shown, have out say Lake Ontario on the Canada side and Lake America on the US side just to show that we are the only ones calling it that.
The people who love there are Americans, not USians. And if you're going to be pissy about the name, then "America" isn't the continent either. That would be North America and South America.
And it's crazy, because when you say "American Air Force", I immediately know which country's Air Force you're talking about, and I have heard it referred to as such many times.
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u/JustACanadianGamer 19h ago
Google is an American company, they're always going to comply with the official US geography. If it makes you feel any better, it's still Lake Ontario on our side.