Apple updates Lake Ontario label to "Lake America" on US Maps
Apple changed the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America" in its Maps app for U.S. users after a request from the White House, following a similar move by Google.
Apple has altered the label for Lake Ontario to "Lake America" in its Maps application for users in the United States. The change was made after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said President Donald Trump directly asked the company to modify the name. The update coincided with the appointment of John Ternus as Apple’s chief executive officer.
Apple becomes the second major U.S. tech firm to follow the president’s directive; Google announced a comparable change on its Google Maps platform earlier in the week. Both companies cite reliance on the U.S. Geographic Names Information System, which now lists the lake under the new designation.
The administration’s order does not legally compel private firms to rename geographic features, but officials have indicated a desire for compliance from companies that depend on federal approvals and contracts. Apple did not respond to requests for comment.
Other mapping services have not adopted the change. MapQuest posted a tweet rejecting the renaming, while its smartphone app remains the top free download in Apple’s App Store.
The name change occurs amid heightened tensions between the United States and Canada, including recent trade disputes that have led to reciprocal tariffs on billions of dollars of goods.