Viral TikTok raises privacy questions about Waymo driverless taxis
Waymo's driverless taxis are getting attention after a TikTok video showed the car's assistant randomly asking if the rider was over 18, right in the middle of her trip.
The clip, which has racked up nearly two million views, amused some but also got people talking about how much these cars know about us and what they do with that info.
Waymo age checks spark privacy debate
To ride solo, you need to be at least 18; teens aged 14 to 17 in the Phoenix area can use Waymo only with linked teen accounts managed by their parents.
To enforce this, Waymo sometimes runs surprise age checks during rides, which many find awkward and unexpected.
On top of that, its cars have cameras facing inside and outside for navigation and support.
While Waymo says footage stays on its systems and is only shared legally, it has received several law enforcement requests for access.
All this has sparked fresh debates about privacy and whether we need clearer rules for companies running self-driving services.