Tech Giants Split on Rename

Google Complies While Apple and MapQuest Resist

Google moved quickly to adopt the new name across mobile and desktop versions of its service. The Next Web notes that the change applies only to U.S. users, while Canadian users continue to see "Lake Ontario." This geographic targeting reflects how mapping apps customize content by location. Apple Maps, however, refused to follow suit and continues displaying the original name.

MapQuest, which provided internet mapping services decades before Google, drew a harder line. Toronto Sun reported that MapQuest explicitly stated it will not update its maps to reflect Trump's order. The split response shows how tech companies are making individual choices about which government directives to follow.

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Following Government Geographic Name Changes

Google said its changes come from official updates in the U.S. Geographic Names Information System, the federal database that sets standard place names. The Next Web explains that Google Maps typically reflects these GNIS updates automatically. The company treats government-approved name changes the same way it handles other official geographic data adjustments.

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A Pattern of Geographic Rebranding Under Trump

The Lake Ontario rename isn't Google's first such change under Trump's orders. Axios notes that Google previously rebranded the "Gulf of Mexico" as "Gulf of America" following a separate Trump executive order. Edmonton Sun reports both changes come amid broader trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada. These naming shifts suggest Google is adopting a policy of compliance with Trump administration geographic directives.

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