Tools · Updated 8 Oct, 09:32 am IST
Backlash over 'Lake America' rename boosts interest in Google Maps alternatives
Why it matters for readers: It shows how map labels and privacy concerns affect which apps people trust and use.
- President Donald Trump ordered renaming Lake Ontario to 'Lake America,' and Google and Apple updated their digital maps accordingly.1
- The relabeling and prior renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America' provoked user backlash and concerns about digital privacy.1
- Interest in map services outside Big Tech rose, with MapQuest app downloads surging in early September and topping the free app charts in the U.S. and Canada on Apple's App Store.1
- MapQuest offers real-time traffic, turn-by-turn directions, and nearby place listings, but its app is currently available only in the U.S. and Canada.1
- MapQuest is owned by California company System1 and is exploring wider app availability after receiving requests from multiple countries.1
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