Alphabet-owned robotax company Waymo has restricted its services due to national “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump and his policies.
A Waymo spokesman confirmed the wired changes on Friday. Services reportedly have been affected in San Francisco, Austin, Atlanta and Phoenix, and are completely suspended in Los Angeles. It is not clear how long the limited service will last.
Last weekend, five Waymo vehicles were smeared with fires and sprays as part of a protest against Trump’s immigration crackdown in Los Angeles, and plastered anti-immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) messages. In response, Waymo stopped service in downtown LA.
The reason why the protesters targeted the vehicle is not entirely clear, but the police department may be considered a surveillance tool as they had requested footage of the Robotaki from previous investigations. (Waymo says it challenges the demand that it appears to be overly extensive or that it does not have a legal basis.)
The city’s fire chief said Wednesday, “We will not try to wipe out those fires unless we stand up to the buildings in times of civil unrest.”