After Google and Apple Maps change 'Lake Ontario' name to 'Lake America' for US users; one Map app has re - The Times of India

**Google and Apple Maps Replace “Lake Ontario” with “Lake America” for U.S. Users**

*New Delhi – September 3, 2026* – In a move that has sparked diplomatic unease, both Google Maps and Apple Maps have begun displaying “Lake America” in place of the historic “Lake Ontario” for users located in the United States. The change, rolled out in early August as part of an internal “regional naming standardization” update, affects the northernmost of the Great Lakes that borders the U.S. state of New York and the Canadian province of Ontario. Neither company has issued a detailed public explanation, but internal memos obtained by *The Times of India* indicate the label was intended to reflect a “broader North‑American identity” for a feature that straddles two nations.

The rebranding has drawn swift criticism from Canadian officials, U.S. bipartisan lawmakers, and geography scholars. Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs released a statement calling the alteration “an affront to shared heritage” and urged the tech giants to restore the original name immediately. In Washington, a bipartisan group of senators introduced a resolution urging Google and Apple to respect internationally recognized toponyms and to consult with both U.S. and Canadian authorities before implementing future changes. Academic experts warn that such unilateral edits can erode public confidence in digital cartography, especially when they intersect with sensitive cross‑border issues.

In response to the backlash, one Indian‑based navigation app, **MapMyWay**, announced that it would retain the traditional “Lake Ontario” label for all users worldwide, citing adherence to United Nations geographic naming conventions. The app’s CEO, Ananya Sharma, said the decision was “a stand for accurate, culturally sensitive mapping,” and urged other providers to follow suit. Meanwhile, Google and Apple have indicated that the “Lake America” label is under review and may be rolled back pending further consultation with Canadian authorities and international standards bodies. The episode adds to a growing list of tech‑driven naming disputes that underscore the geopolitical weight of digital maps in an increasingly interconnected world.