Overview
- Waymo operators watching live interior camera and audio feeds contacted San Mateo police after they observed two underage passengers appearing to drink and shoot projectiles from the car.
- Company staff remotely disabled the vehicle and told the riders the car was having trouble so officers could position themselves for a safe stop, and police searched the vehicle with a K-9 unit before detaining the teens.
- Responding officers determined the projectiles were Orbeez gel beads, no one was hurt, the two 15-year-olds were released to their parents and the case was forwarded to the San Mateo County district attorney for charging review.
- Waymo’s publicly stated policies allow review of in-car video and live monitoring in "urgent circumstances," and the company’s rules bar alcohol, weapons and require proximity or age verification to unlock a ride.
- Privacy researchers and ethicists said the incident raises questions about when operators review interior data, what triggers police involvement and how companies should disclose monitoring and data use to riders.