Following a recent executive order from the White House, Google updated its navigation app to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America for people living inside the United States. While the search giant quickly rolled out the controversial change, Apple Maps has not yet followed suit. Right now, Apple continues to show the classic name across all of its map platforms, no matter where users are located.
Competing map platforms react differently to the new presidential order
The push to alter the map arrived last week during a growing trade fight between the United States and Canada. President Donald Trump told the Department of the Interior to update all federal databases to use the new Lake America title. Because Google relies on the Geographic Names Information System for its location data, the company updated its app to match the federal records for American users.
This move instantly created a split in how major tech companies handle international borders. People checking Google from Canada still see the original Lake Ontario label, while international users see both names grouped. Meanwhile, Apple kept the original name intact for everyone. This hesitation stands out because the hardware maker quickly adopted the Gulf of America label in 2025, just days after a similar executive order.
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Other navigation services are also taking a stand against the update. MapQuest announced it will completely ignore the federal change, rolling out a joke name generator instead. Canadian leaders have strongly pushed back against the renaming effort. It remains to be seen if Apple will eventually update its software to comply with the United States database or continue displaying the centuries-old geographic title.
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