Google has denied altering its Maps service to remove the border between Western Sahara and Morocco for users in the latter country. The tech giant’s statement comes after media reports highlighted a discrepancy in how the border is displayed, depending on the user’s location. According to Google, the different border displays have always been in place, following the company’s longstanding policies for disputed regions.

Users outside of Morocco see Western Sahara and a dotted line representing its disputed border, while those in Morocco do not see Western Sahara. This policy has been in place for some time, with Google stating that it has not made any changes to its Maps service regarding Morocco or Western Sahara. The disputed territory, a former Spanish colony, is largely controlled by Morocco but has been claimed by the pro-independence Polisario Front for decades.

The issue has come to the fore after the United Nations Security Council endorsed a Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara. The plan, initially presented by Rabat in 2007, proposes that Western Sahara would enjoy autonomy under Morocco’s sole sovereignty. The council had previously urged Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania to resume talks to reach a broad agreement.

Western Sahara is a vast and mineral-rich territory, with the dispute over its status ongoing for decades. The UN Security Council’s resolution, supported by the US administration, has been seen as a significant development in the long-running conflict. Google’s statement clarifies that its Maps service reflects the company’s neutral stance on disputed territories, with the display of borders and labels following established policies.

The development highlights the complexities of representing disputed territories on digital platforms, with companies like Google facing challenges in balancing geopolitical sensitivities with the need to provide accurate and unbiased information. As the situation in Western Sahara continues to evolve, the issue of how digital platforms represent the territory is likely to remain a point of interest for observers and stakeholders.