Waymo limits service ahead of today’s ‘No Kings’ protests

Alphabet-owned robotaxi firm Waymo is limiting service resulting from Saturday’s scheduled nationwide “No Kings” protests in opposition to President Donald Trump and his insurance policies.

A Waymo spokesperson confirmed the changes to Wired on Friday. Service is reportedly affected in San Francisco, Austin, Atlanta, and Phoenix, and is completely suspended in Los Angeles. It’s not clear how lengthy the restricted service will final.

As a part of protests final weekend in Los Angeles in opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, five Waymo vehicles were set on fire and spray painted with anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) messages. In response, Waymo suspended service in downtown LA.

Whereas it’s not completely clear why protestors focused the autos, they might be seen as a surveillance device, as police departments have requested robotaxi footage for their investigations previously. (Waymo says it challenges requests that it sees as overly broad or missing a authorized foundation.)

In keeping with the San Francisco Chronicle, the city’s fire chief told officials Wednesday that “in a interval of civil unrest, we won’t attempt to extinguish these fires except they’re up in opposition to a constructing.”