Microsoft Updates Bing Maps to Replace Disputed West Bank Labels
In a statement, the Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media (7amleh) explained that the adjustments affect multiple location-based tools, including the search engine Bing. It noted that areas in the West Bank that were formerly categorized under “Judea and Samaria, Israel” have now been reclassified as “West Bank”.
The term “Judea and Samaria” is used by Israel to refer to the occupied West Bank. However, under international legal standards, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is considered Palestinian territory under Israeli occupation and is viewed as a core region for a future Palestinian state.
Lama Nazeeh, who serves as 7amleh’s advocacy manager, described the update as a “necessary correction”. She also urged technology firms to adhere to international law and avoid contributing to what she called the “digital erasure of Palestinian geography”.
A search conducted by Anadolu on Bing Maps further confirmed that Microsoft has adopted the term West Bank when identifying the Palestinian territory.
At the same time, there has been no immediate official response from the company regarding these recent changes.
The development comes amid increasing global discussion about the influence of major technology companies in conflict zones, particularly in relation to how geographic information and mapping data are represented.
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