GoKawiilUN backs Equal Earth map projection, but Google and Apple Maps stick with Mercator
The UN General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution with 164 votes in favor, urging governments, schools and tech firms to adopt the Equal Earth projection or other equal-area maps when accurate size comparisons matter. The US was the sole country to vote against it, calling the measure a 'radical ideological project.' Despite the vote, major navigation apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps are expected to keep using Mercator-based projections, which remain practical for plotting travel routes.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The Mercator projection, designed in 1569 for maritime navigation, distorts landmass sizes by inflating regions farther from the equator, reinforcing skewed perceptions of continents like Africa relative to Europe or North America. Because the resolution carries no enforcement power, it functions mainly as a symbolic push toward geographic accuracy rather than a technical mandate that would force companies like Google to overhaul the maps billions of users rely on daily.
- The UN resolution passed with 164 votes in favor and only the US opposed.
- It recommends, but does not require, use of the Equal Earth projection for accurate size representation.
- Google Maps and Apple Maps, serving billions of users, are unlikely to abandon Mercator-based projections due to their navigational usefulness.
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See MOVA Rotating Globe on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: arstechnica.com, 2026-09-09
Published there as: “Popular navigation apps unlikely to ditch Mercator maps despite UN resolution”
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