Google determines the names for bodies of water in Google Earth (2008)

Google Earth uses a "Primary Local Usage" policy to name disputed bodies of water, displaying the names preferred by each bordering country rather than taking sides in geopolitical disputes. For the English version, Google shows all disputed names with labels positioned closer to their respective countries, plus explanatory text boxes with additional context. For non-English language versions, Google displays only the locally preferred name while still including alternative names in clickable annotations to balance user experience with transparency about naming disputes.