Apple Maps updates Great Lakes label to comply with presidential directive
Apple has changed the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America on its US map service, following a similar move by Google after an executive order. The update applies only to users in the United States, while Canadian users still see the original name. MapQuest, which declined to make the change, has seen a surge in downloads as a result.
Apple's change applies only to users accessing Maps from within the United States, while Canadian users retain the original Lake Ontario label. International users outside both countries will see both names displayed. The move follows an executive order signed August 27 directing the Interior Department to update federal geographic databases within 30 days, with the order citing the lake's economic importance to the nation.
MapQuest has declined to adopt the new name, as it also refused last year's Gulf of Mexico change. That stance has driven a surge in downloads, pushing its iOS app to the top of the U.S. App Store charts as of September 1, ahead of ChatGPT, and to No. 6 overall in Google's Play Store. The company posted on X a GIF of an apple with the line "Them Too," signaling its continued resistance.
This naming dispute could reshape how Americans interact with digital maps and geographic information, potentially normalizing politically driven changes to long-established place names. Users who rely on Apple or Google services may find their digital view of the world shifting based on government directives, while MapQuest's surge suggests a segment of consumers actively seeks alternatives that resist such changes. The split between U.S. and Canadian users could also complicate cross-border navigation and communication, though the practical impact on daily life remains limited for most.