Kathmandu— Tech company Apple has changed the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” for users of its map application in the United States, complying with a controversial executive order by President Donald Trump. The change was made on Tuesday, coinciding with John Ternus becoming Apple’s new CEO. This move follows similar actions taken by Google Maps earlier this week.

Compliance With Executive Order

Apple is now the second US-based tech giant to comply with Trump's executive order, which cannot legally compel private companies but has influenced changes through federal references. The US Geographic Names Information System, a guide standardizing how the federal government refers to geographical features, was updated following the order.

Direct Lobbying Efforts

US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum revealed in an interview with Fox News that Trump had directly lobbied Apple last week for the name change. This lobbying effort underscores the administration's push to ensure compliance among companies reliant on federal approvals and contracts.

Mixed Responses From Tech Companies

While both Google Maps and Apple have updated their apps, not all digital map providers are adhering to Trump’s directive. MapQuest has pushed back against the name change, stating in a tweet that users can name geographical features as they wish.

Deteriorating US-Canada Relations

The name change comes amid strained relations between the United States and Canada. Recent trade negotiations have failed, leading to the imposition of tariffs by both countries on each other's goods. Lake Ontario, which sits between the two nations, has historically been named in the Indigenous Wendat language.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.