Last summer, an autonomous vehicle belonging to Waymo made an unscheduled stop at a parking lot in San Mateo County, California, where it remained until the police arrived. The local authorities received a 911 call from Waymo employees who were monitoring the passengers inside the car via interior cameras. According to the police report, it appeared that two teenagers were playfully brandishing a black gun out of the window, drinking in between shots.
Fortunately, the story had a happy ending: the weapon was actually a toy gun firing water-filled Orbeez, not real bullets. However, the incident raised questions regarding Waymo’s surveillance system. The company claims that its vehicles are equipped with automated technology capable of detecting firearms within the car.
Understanding Vehicle Surveillance Technology
The exterior of these autonomous vehicles is outfitted with numerous cameras that help them perceive their surroundings. Additionally, many utilise various sensors, including radar and lidar. However, the interior cameras often receive less attention, despite companies asserting their importance for ensuring passenger safety and enforcing policies.
Earlier this year, Waymo disclosed that it employs these interior cameras for both safety and compliance purposes. This came to light after multiple passengers in California, primarily those over 20 years of age, reported instances where Waymo staff would unexpectedly intervene via the intercom during rides to verify their age for solo travel. A 35-year-old man recounted to WIRED that he suspected his backpack had raised suspicions about his age.
The privacy policies governing robotaxi services can be quite comprehensive. The footage captured inside the vehicles may be used for relatively innocuous purposes, such as monitoring cleanliness between rides or locating lost items, but it can also serve to enhance products and services. Such vague terms allow for a range of other potential uses.
The Regulatory Landscape for Surveillance Practices
Experts point out that in the United States, there are few clear regulations governing this type of surveillance, particularly as users often have to consent to extensive terms of service before using ride-hailing applications. In practice, this means placing trust in companies to manage their information responsibly.
Matthew Guariglia, a senior policy analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, highlights that legislators are leaving consumers largely unprotected concerning their privacy and the extent to which companies may utilise collected information. His advice? Just because you’re alone in the vehicle doesn’t mean you’re truly unobserved. It’s wise to behave as if someone is watching from the front seat.
Overall, robotaxi companies, including Waymo, Zoox, and Tesla, maintain that human staff only review interior camera footage when necessary. They all indicate that personal data, including recordings, may be shared with law enforcement or regulatory bodies. Waymo’s assistance page notes that government agencies requesting data are instructed to follow the appropriate legal processes.
The Role of Interior Cameras in Autonomous Vehicles
Nevertheless, this does not imply that the interior cameras are inactive. Waymo spokesperson Julia Ilina clarified that the company utilises automated technology to aid teams in identifying potential violations. A 2025 patent held by Waymo describes a system where the vehicle’s interior cameras perform “preset checklists” automatically before, during, and after rides. Ilina did not confirm whether this system is currently in operation.
Zoox’s website states that its interior cameras “record your entire trip.” Such personal data can be employed to manage rides more effectively, but it can also be used to develop and enhance Zoox’s product offerings. The Amazon-owned company claims it may record conversations between passengers and customer service staff but does not retain those recordings. Whitney Jencks, Zoox’s spokesperson, stated that the company had no additional information to share regarding its privacy policies.
Implications of Data Privacy in the Automotive Sector
Documentation from Tesla’s robotaxi service reveals that a green indicator appears on the vehicle’s central touchscreen when the camera is activated. Passengers have the option to share video and audio from inside the vehicle with the company through a menu in the “Data and Privacy” section of its app. Additionally, documents indicate that passengers enrolled in the company’s “early access” programme automatically consent to share their data. The company did not respond to inquiries for this article, including whether the early access programme has officially concluded.
As of early September, the company has made its Robotaxi app publicly available in several cities across Texas and Florida.
Why Surveillance is Essential in Driverless Vehicles
“Some form of oversight is necessary for monitoring behaviour in a driverless car. People will engage in inappropriate activities in Waymo vehicles if there are no cameras,” explains Justin Brookman, director of technology policy at Consumer Reports. However, reports indicate that cameras do not always prevent such actions.
Yet, the law has yet to fully address what companies should be allowed to see, retain, and utilise. “These vehicles are relatively new, so there are no established expectations regarding what is appropriate. There should be some form of regulation,” Brookman adds.
Automotive companies do not have a stellar track record regarding data privacy. In 2023, it was reported that groups of Tesla employees had shared sensitive videos and images captured by owners’ vehicles over several years. Some of the shared footage included a clip of a man approaching a vehicle while naked and a violent collision involving a car and a child on a bicycle.
Tesla boasts that its extensive database of private vehicle data provides a competitive edge in developing autonomous vehicle software. Its privacy policy states that camera recordings are kept anonymous. However, former employees have informed reporters that the system easily revealed where recordings were made, potentially linking footage to the specific garages or driveways of individual owners.
Earlier this year, General Motors faced penalties amounting to nearly $13 million in California after it was discovered that the company had sold driving data to intermediaries and subsequently to insurance firms without drivers’ consent.
“My main concern is that automotive manufacturers are keen on collecting data. With autonomous vehicles, there is even more to gather. The more data they collect, the more reasons they will find to sell it,” concludes Guariglia.
So, what is Guariglia’s advice regarding privacy? Simply behave appropriately.