Alphabet-owned robotaxi firm Waymo is limiting service because of Saturdayβs scheduled nationwide βNo Kingsβ protests towards President Donald Trump and his insurance policies.
A Waymo spokesperson confirmed the modifications to Wired on Friday. Service is reportedly affected in San Francisco, Austin, Atlanta, and Phoenix, and is completely suspended in Los Angeles. Itβs not clear how lengthy the restricted service will final.
As a part of protests final weekend in Los Angeles towards the Trump administrationβs immigration crackdown, 5 Waymo autos had been set on fireplace and spray painted with anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) messages. In response, Waymo suspended service in downtown LA.
Whereas itβs not completely clear why protestors focused the autos, they could be seen as a surveillance software, as police departments have requested robotaxi footage for his or her investigations up to now. (Waymo says it challenges requests that it sees as overly broad or missing a authorized foundation.)
In accordance with the San Francisco Chronicle, the townβs fireplace chief instructed officers Wednesday that βin a interval of civil unrest, we is not going to attempt to extinguish these fires until they’re up towards a constructing.β