Google removing ‘state’ designation from Canadian government buildings. No word from Microsoft

Google has announced that it is currently in the process of removing the “state” designation from Canadian government buildings and provincial parks after facing widespread backlash from the public. The decision comes after the company received hundreds of complaints over the weekend regarding the categorization of these locations.

The issue arose when it was discovered that although the locations were prominently labeled as “provincial parks,” in small print, many of them were also labeled as “state parks.” This practice, which had been in place for some time, came under scrutiny following U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to annex Canada against the wishes of its political leaders and citizens.

In response to the complaints, Google has committed to updating its categorization of provincial parks and government buildings in Canada. The company has already reviewed and updated the classification of several government buildings, such as those in British Columbia and Nunavut, to reflect them as “government offices.”

Similarly, the majority of parks that were previously labeled as state parks have now been updated to simply parks, with some already carrying the designation of provincial parks. However, similar changes have not yet been made for parks in other countries like Argentina and Russia, where the state park categorization had been applied.

While Google is moving quickly to address the issue, other mapping services like Bing Maps and travel websites like TripAdvisor have not yet followed suit. Apple, on the other hand, already uses the provincial park categorization in its mapping services.

The controversy surrounding the categorization of these locations has prompted Canadians to take a closer look at the U.S.-centric nature of widely used technology products. As technology analyst Carmi Levy pointed out, many people may have been using apps like Google Maps on “autopilot” without paying attention to the details, such as the language used in small print.

In light of this situation, there is a growing awareness of the political implications of naming places, prompting individuals to be more mindful of the details. While the issue may seem minor, it highlights the importance of paying attention to these details and understanding the impact they can have. Ultimately, the decision to update the categorization of Canadian government buildings and provincial parks is a positive step towards addressing the concerns raised by the public.