Google Maps has sparked criticism after changing the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” for users in the United States following an executive order by President Donald Trump.
Trump signed an executive order on Thursday directing the renaming of the lake, which lies along the US-Canada border. The US Geographic Names Information System subsequently updated the name.
Google said on Sunday that it updates Google Maps using official government sources. As a result, users in the US will see “Lake America”, while users in Canada will continue to see “Lake Ontario”.
Users outside the two countries will reportedly see the name displayed as “Lake Ontario (Lake America)”.
Google faces backlash online
The change quickly triggered criticism on social media, particularly among Canadian users.
Some users on X described the move as “pathetic” and accused Google of helping spread misinformation. Others criticised the company for allegedly giving in to pressure from Trump.
The controversy also drew criticism from Canadian politicians.
Canadian officials defend Lake Ontario name
Stephen Crawford, a member of Ontario’s provincial parliament, said some Canadian government websites had also displayed “Lake America” because they use map data from Google Maps.
Crawford said Ontario authorities were reviewing government websites to ensure that the lake was correctly identified as Lake Ontario.
“As Ontarians, we will always stand up for our province, our identity and the places that define it,” Crawford said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also weighed in, reposting Crawford’s statement and declaring that “Lake Ontario is and always will be Lake Ontario.”
Some Canadian websites reportedly experienced the naming issue because they automatically pull geographical information from Google Maps. Officials said the problem was being addressed.
Google explains how regional names are displayed
A Google spokesperson said website developers that embed Google Maps can select a region to localise the map, which affects how place names are displayed.
“Lake Ontario” will appear when developers set their region to Canada, the spokesperson said.
The name change has also received support from some Trump supporters on X, who welcomed Google’s decision to reflect the US government’s updated geographic designation.
The dispute highlights how differences in official geographic naming between countries can affect digital maps and online platforms used by millions of people.
