Google Maps: A New International Standard?

Google Maps has been able to use the internet to create a new form of cartography easily accessible across the world. International border conflicts have spotlighted Google Maps and the way that it defines boundaries.  Maps are often used by countries to gain legitimacy over a disputed territory.  For example, India not only claims the entire disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir, but has made it illegal to map Kashmir as anything but a part of India. Such cartographic assertions are not unusual globally, posing a number of challenges for mapmakers. When does one demarcate a firm boundary for a certain country, and when does one show it in dispute?

Google Maps in India had Indian cities written in Chinese

Google Maps has the challenge of portraying disputed international borders in a manner that is acceptable by all parties.  A recent problem arose with India’s Arunachal Pradesh.  China claims the territory, even though it is clearly controlled by, and internationally recognized as part of, India.  Since each country has a different internet portal to Google Maps, Google can change the boundaries to match a country’s demands, which is indeed what Google Maps does with Arunachal Pradesh.  However, Google Maps accidentally labeled some of the cities in Arunachal Pradesh as Chinese even in maps accessible in India.  Although Google apologized for the mistake, it was too late to prevent a huge uproar in India, in which Google was accused of colluding with China.

Google Maps showed the line claimed by Thailand

Google Maps has been embroiled in several international border controversies, including disputes between Thailand and Cambodia, and between Costa Rica and Nicaragua.  The argument between Thailand and Cambodia centered around Cambodia’s sacred Preah Vihear Temple, which was recognized as a UNESCO heritage site in 2008. French cartographers originally placed the temple in Cambodian territory.  After the withdrawal of French troops from Cambodia in the 1950s, Thailand took control.  The Thais were forced to return it to Cambodia by an international court in 1962, which ruled that the original French maps correctly attributed the temple to Cambodia.  The issue remains unsettled, however, as the area around the temple is still contested.  In the original French map, Cambodia was awarded extensive lands around the temple, but Thailand understands the court decision to refer only to the temple itself. The issue remains active, as the temple has been involved in several episodes of recent cross-border violence.  Google Maps originally displayed Bangkok’s version of the border, including even part of the Preah Vihear Temple within Thai territory.  After an official complaint from the Cambodian government earlier this year accusing Google of being “professionally irresponsible” and “radically misleading.” Google Maps agreed with Cambodia that the displayed borders were misleading. As a result, it added a dotted line to demarcate the border, as they do with other “contested” borders.

Bing Maps shows the internationally accepted border.

Google Map’s most recent international border incident revolved around its portrayal of the line separating Costa Rica from Nicaragua.  As can be seen in the map Google Maps incorrectly displayed the border between the two countries, according to Costa Rica.  The land in question was originally disputed, but U.S. President Grover Cleveland brokered a settlement in 1888, establishing the current borders.  The quarrel seemed to be dead until Nicaraguan troops made an incursion into the misrepresented territory and planted a Nicaraguan flag.  Costa Rica, which does not have an army, was understandably infuriated by the whole episode, and asked for Google Maps to correct its borders. Nicaragua, however, requested Google Maps to retain the borders as shown.  In reviewing their mistake, Google Maps blamed the U.S. Department of State for supplying incorrect maps, and pledged to fix the problem. As of today’s date, the change has been made (for Google Earth, but has not for Google Maps.)

Google Maps is now a world cartographic leader, a position that demands an extra level of scrutiny.  Because no maps previously have achieved a universal level of accessibility, problems arise when Google Maps attempts to display borders and boundaries around the world.  As Google Maps makes changes to reflect agreed upon geopolitical boundaries, a new level of affirmation is bestowed upon their decisions.