4 ms·

> random companies need to comply with press releases from politicians now? You are misinformed. This was not a "press release", it was an executive order. [1

> random companies need to comply with press releases from politicians now? You are misinformed. This was not a "press release", it was an executive order. [1] Google naturally has some expressive latitude, but that's constrained by legal, diplomatic, social, contractual and political considerations that all map makers have when they balance what they might personally feel is a nice boundary or place name, versus the legally-protected designations of sovereign nations and their governments. [1] https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/gulf-of-america-day-2025/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/gulf...

JohnFen 2y ago
Executive orders only apply to the executive branch activities. They aren't law that everyone has to follow.
- mr_mitm 2y ago
  There are many name disputes and even border disputes, just ask China about Taiwan. If I were Google, I wouldn't want to make that decision either. I'd show Chinese users the borders as defined by the Chinese government and other users whatever their government says is the border. That's what's happening here as well, and as dumb as I think this decision is, I think that's fine. I wouldn't want Google to be the final arbiter over names and borders. They should be as neutral as possible and get their data from official sources, and if they are in conflict, show users the result from their respective official source.
  - RegnisGnaw 2y ago
    Same with Kashmir and Sea of Japan/East Sea.
  - JohnFen 2y ago
    "As neutral as possible" would mean using both names, one in parentheses, for people in the US just as they are doing it for people in other nations. Google isn't taking a neutral stance here, they're choosing sides. I don't think this is the largest issue by a longshot. I'll keep calling it by its correct name no matter what Trump says. It's basically just Trump trolling. But Google, and other large corporations, are kowtowing and it's a very bad look.
    - mr_mitm 2y ago
      They have a process for this and they're following it in this case just like in any other case where a country disagrees with international consensus: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/28/google-reclassifies-us-as-sensitive-country-like-china-russia-.html https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/28/google-reclassifies-us-as-se...
Gerardo1 2y ago
Executive orders have *zero* authority over private companies and individuals. An executive order can say that, for example, the FTC should sanction companies that don't refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, as the FTC is an executive-branch organization. Now, whether the FTC has that authority of private companies would be hashed out in court. You're mistaking "executive order" for "royal edict".

JohnFen 2y ago

Executive orders only apply to the executive branch activities. They aren't law that everyone has to follow.

mr_mitm 2y ago
There are many name disputes and even border disputes, just ask China about Taiwan. If I were Google, I wouldn't want to make that decision either. I'd show Chinese users the borders as defined by the Chinese government and other users whatever their government says is the border. That's what's happening here as well, and as dumb as I think this decision is, I think that's fine. I wouldn't want Google to be the final arbiter over names and borders. They should be as neutral as possible and get their data from official sources, and if they are in conflict, show users the result from their respective official source.
- RegnisGnaw 2y ago
  Same with Kashmir and Sea of Japan/East Sea.
- JohnFen 2y ago
  "As neutral as possible" would mean using both names, one in parentheses, for people in the US just as they are doing it for people in other nations. Google isn't taking a neutral stance here, they're choosing sides. I don't think this is the largest issue by a longshot. I'll keep calling it by its correct name no matter what Trump says. It's basically just Trump trolling. But Google, and other large corporations, are kowtowing and it's a very bad look.
  - mr_mitm 2y ago
    They have a process for this and they're following it in this case just like in any other case where a country disagrees with international consensus: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/28/google-reclassifies-us-as-sensitive-country-like-china-russia-.html https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/28/google-reclassifies-us-as-se...

Gerardo1 2y ago

Executive orders have *zero* authority over private companies and individuals. An executive order can say that, for example, the FTC should sanction companies that don't refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, as the FTC is an executive-branch organization. Now, whether the FTC has that authority of private companies would be hashed out in court. You're mistaking "executive order" for "royal edict".