Microsoft adopts ‘West Bank’ label, removes Israeli designations from maps

Microsoft has made changes to its digital maps to include Palestinian geographical names while removing what a digital rights group called “misleading” Israeli designations used in the occupied West Bank. The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media (7amleh) announced on Monday that the updates affect location-based services, including the Bing search engine, where labels previously listing locations under “Judea and Samaria, Israel” have been replaced with the term “West Bank.”

International law and digital maps

“Judea and Samaria” is an Israeli term for the occupied West Bank. However, under international law, the West Bank — including East Jerusalem — is recognized as occupied Palestinian territory and a key component of a future Palestinian state. 7amleh Advocacy Manager Lama Nazeeh stated that the changes represent a “necessary correction” and called on technology companies to comply with international law and avoid contributing to the “digital erasure of Palestinian geography.”

No official statement from Microsoft

An Anadolu search on Bing confirmed that Microsoft has adopted “West Bank” to refer to the Palestinian territory. There has been no immediate official statement from the tech giant regarding the updates. The move comes amid growing international debate over the role of global technology companies in conflicts, particularly regarding map representation in conflict-affected areas. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements.