Google Maps Alters Western Sahara Display for Users in Morocco
Rabat, Morocco – Google Maps is displaying differing geographical representations of Western Sahara depending on user location, removing the disputed border for those accessing the service within Morocco, the company confirmed. The change, impacting map views inside the North African nation, comes amid ongoing international disagreement over the territory’s sovereignty.
The alteration reflects Google’s existing policies regarding disputed regions, where map displays are adjusted based on local perspectives. Users outside of Morocco continue to see Western Sahara and a dotted line indicating its contested border, while those within morocco view a map without the territory or the demarcation. This practice aims to navigate a sensitive geopolitical issue, but has drawn scrutiny as it appears to align with Morocco’s claim over the region.
Western Sahara, a mineral-rich former Spanish colony, is primarily administered by Morocco, but its independence has been sought for decades by the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria. The dispute has stalled for years, with the United Nations Security Council repeatedly calling for negotiations between Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania.
A recent shift in international positioning occurred under the Trump administration,which supported a Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara – a proposal initially put forward by Rabat in 2007. This move, endorsed by a UN security Council resolution, has further complicated efforts to reach a lasting resolution and underscores the sensitivity surrounding the territory’s depiction on global platforms like Google Maps.
“these labels follow our longstanding policies for disputed regions,” a Google spokesperson stated. “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.”
