Report: Microsoft Updates Maps to Reflect Palestinian Geographic Terminology

(MENAFN) A digital rights group has reported that Microsoft has revised elements of its mapping services to incorporate Palestinian geographic terminology while removing certain Israeli designations previously used for areas in the occupied West Bank.

According to a statement by the Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media (7amleh), the updates affect location-based services such as the Bing search engine. Labels that had earlier identified locations in the West Bank under “Judea and Samaria, Israel” have reportedly been replaced with the term “West Bank.”

“Judea and Samaria” is a term commonly used by Israeli authorities, whereas international law generally considers the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as occupied Palestinian territory and part of a future Palestinian state.

A representative from the organisation described the change as a “necessary correction,” urging global technology companies to align their platforms with international legal frameworks and avoid what was described as the “digital erasure of Palestinian geography.”

Independent checks cited in reports also indicated that Bing maps now use “West Bank” when referring to the territory.

Microsoft has not issued an official statement confirming or explaining the reported changes.

The development comes amid ongoing global discussions about the role of major technology firms in politically sensitive regions, particularly regarding how digital maps and geographic data are presented in areas affected by conflict.

The issue remains closely tied to broader tensions on the ground, where developments in the West Bank continue to raise concerns about the future political status of the territory and the viability of a two-state solution.

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