Waymo will be temporarily The company said Friday it restricted robotic services in all national markets as U.S. cities prepare for protests against federal immigration policies, law enforcement and protests against protesters by military crackdowns on protesters. Album and Album will completely stop service in Los Angeles.
Waymo spokesman Sandy Karp confirmed the pause and adjustments to the service, but declined to comment further. There is no indication of how long the service changes will last.
Adjustments will affect services in San Francisco; Austin, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; and Phoenix, Arizona. On Friday afternoon, some San Francisco riders saw in-app messages showing that all the company’s robots were busy and therefore unable to get on the bus.
The move comes a week after protesters caught fire on five self-driving taxis operating in downtown Los Angeles. Images of the fire spread on social media and became a flash point in discussions about protesters’ violence and the role of technology in citizen surveillance. The incident raised questions about camera and sensor data collected on public roads through Waymo and how it can be shared with law enforcement. Earlier this week, KARP told Wired that the company often challenges data requests that are overly broad or have no reasonable legal basis. She declined to comment on the specific case.
Waymo sometimes adjusts service areas before major events of large crowds and traffic signs, including sports and concerts, as well as responding to events such as fires or floods such as road safety issues.
