{
  "id": 4453980,
  "title": "Google Maps renames Lake Ontario 'Lake America' in US, but not Canada",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/google-maps-renames-lake-ontario-lake-america-in-us-but-not-canada",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-30T15:24:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/news/world/2026-08-30-google-maps-renames-lake-ontario-lake-america-in-us-but-not-canada/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Google Maps updated its mapping system to label Lake Ontario as \"Lake America\" for users in the United States, following President Donald Trump's official renaming of the lake. However, Canadian users will continue to see the lake referred to as \"Lake Ontario,\" which has been the traditional Indigenous name for the body of water since the 17th century. This change by Google aligns with the United States' Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), the official federal database for geographic names. The US-based tech giant noted that both names will be displayed for users outside of the US and Canada. The renaming of Lake Ontario by Trump has sparked criticism from Canadian officials, with Ontario Premier Doug Ford calling it \"absolutely backwards\" and suggesting the move would harm the US more than Canada, given the province's significant dependence on US vehicle purchases. Trump's decision has added to the escalating trade tensions between the two countries, with both nations imposing reciprocal tariffs on each other's goods.",
  "summary": "Google said it made its change in line with the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), the official federal database for geographic names.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Canada unveils huge new Lake Ontario sign in snub to Trump",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/canada-unveils-huge-new-lake-ontario-sign-in-snub-to-trump",
        "published": "2026-08-30T08:44:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Google updates maps to show \"Lake America\" in U.S. after Trump order",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/google-updates-maps-to-show-lake-america-in-u-s-after-trump-order",
        "published": "2026-08-30T13:52:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NPR",
        "title": "Canada claps back at Trump's efforts to rename Lake Ontario as 'Lake America'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/canada-claps-back-at-trumps-efforts-to-rename-lake-ontario-as-lake",
        "published": "2026-08-30T14:36:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "Ontario's premier says trade war would be 'devastating' for US and Canada",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/ontarios-premier-says-trade-war-would-be-devastating-for-us-and-canada",
        "published": "2026-08-30T14:58:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "Ontario Premier Doug Ford Counters Trump's 'Lake America' With Giant 'Lake Ontario' Sign",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/ontario-premier-doug-ford-counters-trumps-lake-america-with-giant",
        "published": "2026-08-30T15:02:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Google Maps renames Lake Ontario 'Lake America' in US — but not Canada",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/google-maps-renames-lake-ontario-lake-america-in-us-but-not-canada-4454496",
        "published": "2026-08-30T15:20:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}