Google is removing the "state" designation from Canadian government buildings and provincial parks after widespread complaints, while Microsoft follows suit.
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| Google has begun removing the "state" label from Canadian parks and government offices after criticism over inaccurate designations. Image: ChicHue |
Toronto, Canada — March 1, 2025:
Google is removing the "state" designation from Canadian government buildings and provincial parks after widespread public complaints. The tech giant confirmed Monday that it had received hundreds of reports over the weekend from Canadians frustrated by the mislabeling, particularly amid recent rhetoric from former U.S. President Donald Trump about annexing Canada.
While parks were correctly titled as "provincial parks" in large text, a smaller label categorized many as "state parks." Some government buildings in British Columbia and Nunavut were also listed as "state government offices." Google says this terminology had been used for years but acknowledged the need for correction following public outcry.
A company spokesperson said updates were being rolled out quickly, with many locations already reflecting the correct designations. However, similar corrections have not yet been made for other countries, such as Argentina and Russia, where the "state park" label remains in use.
Microsoft’s Bing Maps faced similar issues and announced Friday that it would update its system to reflect accurate Canadian terminology. Apple Maps, by contrast, had already been using "provincial park" as the default label.
UBC professor Stefan Dollinger noted that many tech platforms rely on American-centric language, while technology analyst Carmi Levy said Canadians are becoming more aware of the political implications of digital mapping.
“This might seem minor, but place names hold meaning," Levy said. "This is a wake-up call about how much digital platforms shape our understanding of national identity.”