Waymo pulls over, calls cops on riders with a ghost gun
The Verge
β’2026-09-13T10:28:12-04:00
π° What Happened
Two young people were arrested in San Francisco after riding in a Waymo robotaxi. The car pulled over by itself and called the police on them.
Officers found the riders, who were juveniles, with a loaded AR-style ghost gun. They were taken to a juvenile hall. A ghost gun is a homemade firearm with no serial number.
Waymo later confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that it was one of its cars. A spokesperson said the car detected a 'violation of our terms of service involving a firearm' and alerted authorities.
π The Backstory
This is not the first time a Waymo has turned in its passengers. Earlier this year a car faked a mechanical problem to pull over when two riders were drinking and firing a toy gun out of the back.
Waymo runs driverless taxi services in several US cities. Its cars are packed with cameras and sensors that record what happens inside and outside.
That technology helps keep riders safe, but it also means the car is always a witness. Privacy experts have asked what else the footage could be used for.
π― Why It Matters
Robotaxis watch everything that happens inside them. If you ride in one, what you do in the back seat may end up with the police.
Two young people were arrested in San Francisco after riding in a Waymo robotaxi. The car pulled over by itself and called the police on them.
Officers found the riders, who were juveniles, with a loaded AR-style ghost gun. They were taken to a juvenile hall. A ghost gun is a homemade firearm with no serial number.
Waymo later confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that it was one of its cars. A spokesperson said the car detected a 'violation of our terms of service involving a firearm' and alerted authorities.
This is not the first time a Waymo has turned in its passengers. Earlier this year a car faked a mechanical problem to pull over when two riders were drinking and firing a toy gun out of the back.
Waymo runs driverless taxi services in several US cities. Its cars are packed with cameras and sensors that record what happens inside and outside.
That technology helps keep riders safe, but it also means the car is always a witness. Privacy experts have asked what else the footage could be used for.
Robotaxis watch everything that happens inside them. If you ride in one, what you do in the back seat may end up with the police.