Calling a car has come a long way since the days of waving down a taxi driver and hoping he chooses to pull up to the curb for you.
These days taxis are considered a second choice to ride services like Uber, which changed the industry in 2011 by offering a model from which both driver and rider could benefit.
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Lyft followed suit in 2012, becoming Uber’s biggest competitor and grabbing a piece of the burgeoning market for itself.
Now, as self-driving technology advances, we have yet another option: ridesharing with no one at all. I did it for the first time on a trip to Los Angeles in 2024, where a Tesla merrily drove me to its destination with no human being in the driver’s seat. While I arrived thankfully unscathed, the pit of my stomach felt cold as I watched the steering wheel turning on its own. It may be the future, but the future is still somewhat terrifying.
Related: These parents shun Uber for Waymo for a built-in safety feature
One of the companies best known for self-driving cars is Google subsidiary Waymo (GOOGL) , which offers automonous rides in a few select cities including Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. If you can handle the ride without fear of the technology (let me know if you figure that out, as I could use some tips), it seems like a handy way to get from point A to point B.
That is, until you learn what Waymo is preparing to do with the data it captures from those rides.
Waymo’s in-vehicle cameras may leave riders feeling uneasy.
Image source: Andrej Sokolow/picture alliance via Getty Images
Waymo’s big plan for all that rider data
It’s not news that Waymo records the data from its rides and has cameras inside its vehicles. After all, this is very new technology. The company carefully monitors rides to learn how to improve its product while ensuring customers have an optimal experience.
However, researcher Jane Manchun Wong took to X to share some very interesting information she noticed when she came across an unreleased version of Waymo’s privacy policy, as originally reported by TechCrunch.
Related: Cruise collapse creates opportunity for big robotaxi rival
The statement on Waymo’s privacy page is nothing out of the ordinary, stating, “Waymo may share data to improve and analyze its functionality and to tailor products, services, ads, and offers to your interests. You can opt out of sharing your information with third parties, unless it’s necessary to the functioning of the service.”
In her post, Wong shows a screengrab, saying, “Waymo is working on Generative AI training using ‘interior camera data associated with rider’s identity,’ provides opt-outs for this and data sharing under CCPA. Waymo explicitly states in this unreleased Privacy page [that] it may share your data for personalized ads.”
A thought before you panic
This is something you can opt out of in the Waymo One app, so there are two key things to consider here before you start shaking your fist at the heavens: Disable the option, and also consider that this is draft language. Yet all of this probably sounds very familiar, as it seems like everything — from the computers we use to our phones — are quietly using our data in a way that feels nefarious when you simply aren’t aware of it.
The unfortunate truth is that any technology you use to make your life easier is likely getting something in return. So think smart about the services you use, and remember that the opt-out button is your friend — as long as you remember it’s there.
Related: Sorry Elon, most Americans are uneasy with this Tesla technology
