Isnt that updated by some national database and google just pulls that data? Apparently Apple Maps will also get it in a few days, since they get the data from them as well.

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jvolkman 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Yes. We had the same comments about Gulf of America.

Edit: I don't know that there's an actual database served up by the US Gov, but governments control the naming of these things within their own jurisdictions. All of the big mapping products have the ability to serve up different names based on where you're viewing from.

And Apple just renamed: https://apnews.com/article/apple-lake-ontario-america-google...

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TazeTSchnitzel 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/searc...

GNIS, Geographic Names Information System

(Which still shows Lake Ontario for me as I write this. The body of water along the US's southern coast is Gulf of America however.)

	▲	jonas21 3 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		The database entry was updated to "Lake America" on August 27: https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/searc... GNIS renders their own static map tiles, so it may take a while for the update to be reflected on the map itself.
	▲	michchinn 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		> Per Secretarial Order 3453, Lake Ontario has been renamed to Lake America. The basemaps for GNIS are in the process of being updated to reflect this name change. I see this on the top bar

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wbl 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The government does not control the words you or I use to refer to things.

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j2kun 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

It would be nice if Maps would prefer data from government DBs that have localized versions of foreign place name data (e.g., Germany's BKG) when available.

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biophysboy 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

It makes perfect sense that govs control names within their jurisdiction - I am eyerolling at both the name change and the reaction.

I am curious though - is it convention to leave the data as is, or is it illegal to modify it?

Regardless, itll just be changed back in 2 years; as long as I can type "lake ontario" and get directed to Lake Ontario, I do not care at all what the gov database calls it currently.

	▲	sixothree 2 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		I wouldn't exactly describe one person as "the government".
	▲	watwut 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		> I am eyerolling at both the name change and the reaction. Why do you expect meek reaction in a rename like this? What is eye rolling over reacting to this particular rename?

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ericmay 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I too remember last year when everyone really cared about that and it was the end of the world and then we got on with our lives because at the end of the day it not only doesn't matter, the naming of these things is arbitrary, and anything that a president can change the name of a subsequent president can modify yet again.

What do they call the South China Sea, is it the East Sea or is it the West Philippine Sea? What do the French call the English Channel? Is it Le Manche d'anglaise?

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nancyminusone 3 hours ago | parent [-]

So unimportant that you just have to comment on how unimportant it is

	▲	ericmay 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		It’s so unimportant folks are commenting on my comment about how unimportant it is!

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spogbiper 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/apple-maps-changes-name-lak...

Apple updated it yesterday. If I were Google I'd turn down that refresh rate and let someone else take the bad PR next time

	▲	lotsofpulp 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		There is no bad PR, 99% of people don’t care.

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bee_rider 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Seems like something that should be user-configurable (like DNS servers). While the recent annoying renamings have drawn attention to the issue, landmark names have basically always been political.

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avs733 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I have been wondering this as well. I cannot imagine having this be autoupdated without review from a centralized database is a good idea. This is a process that needs to be frangible and have some friction in it.

In this day and age, GPS mapping tools have major implications for societal function, safety, economics, national security, healthcare, etc. I'm struggling to think of an industry where a sudden absence/subtle changes of named GPS mapping data would not have an effect.

If everyone relied on the same data base which could push changes to the map in the pocket of every resident of a nation that would be the first thing I would think to hack. Probably easier than actually jamming or spoofing GPS/GNSS over a huge area.

	▲	bpodgursky 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		There are thousands of small street changes across the country each day. New subdivisions, road expansions, lane changes, new traffic lights. Of course the vast majority should be auto-updated without manual review, what would a person add to the process? The public database is the system of record in the first place.