Google Sets Record Straight on Western Sahara Map Display
Google has officially denied reports that it removed the disputed border between Western Sahara and Morocco for users accessing its mapping service from within Morocco. The clarification comes amid growing speculation about changes to the digital representation of the contested territory.
In a statement issued to AFP on Tuesday, November 11, a Google spokesperson firmly stated that the company has not made any alterations to how Morocco or Western Sahara appear on Google Maps. The spokesperson emphasized that the varying border displays reflect Google's consistent approach to handling internationally disputed regions.
How Google Maps Displays the Disputed Territory
According to Google's explanation, the mapping service shows different views depending on the user's location. Users outside Morocco can see Western Sahara labeled with a dotted line marking its contested border with Morocco. However, people using Google Maps within Morocco do not see Western Sahara as a separate entity at all.
The company spokesperson clearly stated: "These labels follow our longstanding policies for disputed regions. People using Maps outside of Morocco see Western Sahara and a dotted line to represent its disputed border; people using Maps in Morocco do not see Western Sahara."
Background of the Western Sahara Conflict
Western Sahara represents one of Africa's longest-running territorial disputes. This mineral-rich territory was formerly under Spanish colonial rule until the mid-1970s. Since then, control of the region has been fiercely contested.
Morocco currently administers most of Western Sahara, while the pro-independence Polisario Front, which receives backing from Algeria, continues to assert sovereignty over the entire territory. The conflict has persisted for decades despite numerous international mediation efforts.
The United Nations Security Council has repeatedly called for renewed negotiations involving all key stakeholders: Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania. The goal remains reaching a lasting political settlement that would resolve the status of Western Sahara.
UN Security Council's Recent Endorsement
The map display controversy emerged following the UN Security Council's endorsement of a 2007 Moroccan proposal that would grant Western Sahara autonomy under Rabat's sovereignty. This move was initiated during former U.S. President Donald Trump's administration and remains highly contentious among various international actors.
Google's statement effectively dismisses any connection between the UN Security Council's political decisions and how the company displays territorial boundaries in its mapping service. The tech giant maintains that its approach to the Western Sahara mapping has remained consistent with its global policies on disputed territories.
The clarification comes at a sensitive time when digital map representations increasingly influence political perceptions and international disputes over territory. Google's transparent explanation of its mapping policies helps users understand how the platform navigates these complex geopolitical situations.
