Imagine hopping into a driverless cab, only to realize the cameras inside aren’t just there for your safety—they might be training AI models and fueling targeted ads. That’s the unsettling revelation from a leaked Waymo privacy policy, sparking fresh debates about surveillance in the age of autonomous vehicles 16.
What the Leak Reveals
- AI Training: Waymo’s draft policy suggests using interior camera footage—tied to rider identities—to train generative AI models. Think: analyzing passenger behavior to improve chatbots or image generators 14.
- Ad Targeting: The same data could “tailor ads and offers” to riders’ interests, though Waymo claims this is placeholder text 69.
- Opt-Out Loophole: California riders can refuse data sharing (thanks to state privacy laws), but the opt-out might be buried in app settings 18.
Waymo’s Defense
The company insists the leaked text is a “placeholder” and that it has “no plans” to use footage for ads. Instead, cameras focus on safety, cleanliness, and lost items 35. But critics note:
- Alphabet’s AI hunger: With Google and DeepMind under the same roof, data-sharing temptations loom large 14.
- Profit pressures: Waymo loses billions yearly. Monetizing rider data could offset costs 16.
Why It Matters
- Privacy vs. Progress: Should convenience come at the cost of being unknowingly filmed?
- Precedent setting: If Waymo gets away with this, other AV companies might follow 6.
Waymo’s tech is revolutionary, but its privacy stance feels too familiar—another tech giant pushing boundaries until regulators step in.
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