Apple Maps has joined Google Maps in renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America” for users in the United States. Google made the change first, and Apple quickly followed suit, after President Trump ordered federal agencies to use the new name because he became irritated at Canada for not agreeing to a new tariff agreement.
Apple and Google didn’t have to make this change, but they chose to do so to please Trump. MapQuest, another mapping app has shown more spine and continues to use the traditional name.
There is also something strange about seeing different names for the same lake on both apps, depending on where you live. An American looking at a map sees Lake America. A Canadian looking at the same lake sees Lake Ontario.
We assumed maps are about providing us with a useful reference that communicates accurate geographic information. They tell us where things are and what they’re called. That makes them different from social media, where political arguments and opinions vary. A map is not someone’s opinion.
We’ve always assumed that geographic names only change for good reason such as border changes, countries renaming themselves or uniting. But this is different. Nothing about the lake has changed. It’s in the same location. The name changed simply because the president wanted it changed, and two of the world’s biggest technology companies decided to go along.
Apple and Google’s actions should raise a further question about the power they have over the information we see every day. Their maps are used by hundreds of millions of people. When they change something as basic as the name of a major geographic feature, users will treat it as factual.
You would think these two companies with enormous influence would take much more care and be more responsible about what they say and do. They’re in a unique position of responsibility, and when they discard their principles on a whim, they do great damage to our country and to their own reputations. Maybe it’s time to start using a RandMcNally Atlas once again.