Mexicans are using a new form of protest — something you might be using everyday

REUTERS/Henry Romero

Google Maps was once again used as a form of protest this week in Mexico when somebody gave derisive name changes to the president’s home, the senate, and congress.

President Enrique Peña Nieto’s residence, officially known as Los Pinos, was renamed on Google Maps as “The Official Residence of Corruption” while the Senate and Congress buildings were renamed “Deplorable Congress” and “Rat Chamber.”

Google said the rebranding was done by a prankster, and has already been fixed.

“The majority of users who edit our maps make great contributions like adding places that had never been mapped, new businesses, or address changes,” a Google spokesperson told me. “We offer apologies for this inappropriate content created by a user. It has been removed.”

The spokesperson said Google monitors its maps and tries to keep such incidents to a minimum. “We learn from these incidents and constantly improve the way we detect, prevent, and bring attention to incorrect listings.”

REUTERS/Henry Romero

It’s not the first time Mexicans have used Google Maps to make a political statement.

Last year Mexican social media blew up when somebody tagged the first lady’s infamous $7 million mansion as the “Museum of Corruption”on Google Maps.

This week’s name switcheroo come amid protests over a controversial hike in gas prices known as el gasolinazo. While the street protests have become unruly at times, Mexicans are also blowing off steam on the internet with a flurry of memes and hashtags.

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