Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, has decided to significantly limit operations of its robotaxi fleet in several U.S. cities ahead of today’s expected nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations, which aim to protest President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies.
Confirmed by a company spokesperson, the temporary restrictions have affected Waymo vehicle services in San Francisco, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta, with an outright suspension of all services in Los Angeles. The timeline for resuming normal operations remains unclear.
The precautionary measures come after recent protests in Los Angeles intensified into destructive incidents directed at Waymo cars. During demonstrations last weekend opposing the administration’s ongoing immigration enforcement actions, protesters set fire to five Waymo vehicles and sprayed them with anti-ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) slogans. Following those events, Waymo already had suspended its operations in downtown Los Angeles.
Though the specific motive behind targeting these self-driving cars remains uncertain, some protesters reportedly perceive the vehicles as surveillance instruments leveraged by law enforcement. Various police departments have in the past requested robotaxi video footage to aid in criminal investigations, although Waymo stresses it challenges any such requests deemed overly broad or without proper legal justification.
Local authorities are also adjusting their response strategies under mounting tensions. In San Francisco, the fire chief advised city leaders that, during periods of civil unrest, crews will prioritize controlling vehicle fires only if they pose a direct threat to nearby structures.
