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Comment by gmiller123456 | Hacker News Reader

Even though he can't tell others to follow them, they often choose to do so anyway. E.g. Google Maps displays the Gulf of America.

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It doesn't for me (although it does include it in parentheses after the real name), so I'm going to hope this is only an 'only in the US' change.

It's geofenced.

https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/maps/uni...

Here in the UK it still says Ontario.

Interesting that he changed the name to that of the entire continent, so Mexicans and Venezuelans can feel part of it.

Close. But it's not (re)named Lake Americas. Remember, there are two continents, North America and South America. It's not one continent; however, jointly they can be called The Americas.

Refering to the whole as America is a thing. Perhaps not in America (whatever that means).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americas

Sure, and referring to the whole of the UK as England is also a thing. It’s confusing but people are people. Or as they say in some parts of “England” it’s queer as folk.

If you follow the link there are dictionary entries. It's not stupidity, it's completely reasonable. Amerigo Vespucci didn't name the USA, he named the entire continent.

"Britain" is widely used to refer to the UK, but Great Britain is the physical land mass which excludes Northern Ireland, so there is rarely confusion.

Did they adopt the petty naming spat over Lake Ontario^WAmerica?

Not yet, but I assume they will. They said they only ever show the official names designated by the country in question. Probably because a lot of countries disagree on borders as well as names and get really upset with people who get it wrong.

Apple Maps does as well. It's sad that they're kowtowing to Trump in such a ridiculous way.

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