Google Maps Maintains Consistent Border Display Policy Between Morocco and Western Sahara

Google clarified that the dotted border lines between Western Sahara and Morocco have consistently been invisible to those accessing Google Maps from Morocco.

United States:

On Tuesday, Google informed AFP that users in Morocco have never been able to see the dotted lines marking the disputed border between Western Sahara and Morocco, which are visible to users elsewhere around the world.

Following media reports suggesting a connection between this display difference and the UN Security Council's endorsement of Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, Google issued a statement emphasizing that their map displays have remained consistent.

"We have not made changes to Morocco or Western Sahara on Google Maps," a Google spokesperson stated to AFP.

"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."

Western Sahara is a resource-rich territory formerly under Spanish colonial control. While Morocco maintains control over most of the territory, the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, has been pursuing independence claims for decades.

Previously, the United Nations Security Council had encouraged Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania to resume negotiations toward a comprehensive agreement.

However, under the Trump administration's initiative, the council's resolution endorsed Morocco's 2007 proposal that would grant Western Sahara autonomy while remaining under Moroccan sovereignty.