A viral Instagram post has led to accusations that both Apple and Google have removed the country of Palestine from their online maps. However, Palestine has never been labelled on these maps at all, raising further questions.

This is not the first time Google has found itself facing criticism over its decision not to label Palestine, with the issue originally raised in 2016. A Change.org petition was launched the same year demanding Palestine be added to Google Maps, and, as of writing, has over one million signatures.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE USA

Both Apple and Google are based in the United States, which, unlike the United Nations, does not recognise Palestine as an independent state. The Trump administration has controversially chosen to break more recent US policy by showing significant support for Israel.

Earlier this year, President Trump unveiled a peace plan for Israel and Palestine, which was immediately rejected by Palestinian leaders. The plan involved recognising the majority of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian territory, establishing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and refusing Palestinian refugees the right of return to homes lost to Israel in past conflicts. The plan did offer a route to a Palestinian ‘state’, but only with a number of serious limitations, such as a lack of armed forces, control by Israeli security in some areas, and the dismantling of Hamas.

HOW THE COMPANIES RESPONDED

According to The Independent, Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest allegations, but the website covering its position on disputed boundaries states that they are displayed as a ‘dashed grey line’. 

When the same claims were made against Google in 2016, a spokeswoman for the company highlighted that Palestine had never been labelled on Google Maps, as well as blaming a bug for removing labels for the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

The question remains, however, as to why these companies have never labelled Palestine on their maps. It is possible they are simply following the lead of the US Government, which currently does not recognise Palestine. 

However, further research suggests that, if this is the case, it is not the only factor behind the decision. Western Sahara, which has been at the centre of a long-running dispute, is labelled on Google Maps. Yet it is not presently recognised by the US as an independent state (the official US position is that it is neutral on the territory’s final status). This gives credence to criticism of the companies, which argues that they are taking a political stance on the conflict between Israel and Palestine. 

Rhiannon is an LLB student at Swansea University, who intends to pursue a career at the Bar of England and Wales. She has particular interests in criminal and human rights law. She has sat on the committee of her university’s Bar Society and is incoming President of its Feminist Society.

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