Kids, rowdy riders, don't forget: Waymo could be watching
Waymo robotaxis alerted police after detecting two underage passengers who were intoxicated and carrying a toy gun. The incident highlights the privacy implications of in-cabin monitoring systems in autonomous vehicles.
Why it matters
As autonomous vehicle adoption grows, the balance between passenger safety and privacy remains a critical point of public debate.
Police officers searched a Waymo robotaxi after the company reported two underage riders inside the vehicle. San Mateo Police Department Waymo's robotaxis have in-cabin cameras and microphones that can be used by remote support agents. Police recently said Waymo contacted the authorities after it detected two underage riders. Waymo's remote agents have previously checked in on riders after detecting "unusual activity." Fans of robotaxis hail the privacy and intimacy offered by a driverless car. But don't forget: Waymo could be watching. The case has been made clear time and time again — and more recently in San Mateo after Waymo reported two 15-year-old riders to the local police department. Jeanine Luna, a San Mateo Police Department spokesperson, told Business Insider that a Waymo representative called on Monday afternoon after the company believed two passengers were "manipulating a firearm" and might be intoxicated.
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