Adapted by:
Alberto de la Torre
WriterI've been a journalist and audiovisual communicator since 2016. My specialty is the automotive sector, where I’ve been analyzing the industry and its developments for more than five years. I'm particularly interested in new forms of mobility and the changes that cities are experiencing, especially in urban planning and the promotion of cycling and personal mobility vehicles.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
What started as a protest against immigration raids has escalated into violent confrontations in the streets of Los Angeles, resulting in the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines. President Donald Trump announced plans to double the number of troops in the initial unit. He confirmed that 4,000 National Guard troops will be deployed, despite concerns about the legality of this action.
Over the past four days, tensions have intensified, leading to confrontations with police, attacks on businesses, and the burning of vehicles.
Amid all this chaos, one clear target of the protests has emerged: Waymo.
Click on the image to view the original post on X.
Waymo Is the Focus of the Protests
The image above shows a shirtless protester with his face covered, waving a Mexican flag while standing on the roof of a completely vandalized Waymo vehicle. This image has become emblematic of the unrest in the country.
“Sometimes a picture says all that needs to be said,” Aldo Butazzoni, a conservative commentator covering the riots on the streets, said in a recent post.
Climbing on top of a Waymo vehicle is no accident. The company, which operates a robotaxi service in Los Angeles, has come under attack, with protesters vandalizing its cars extensively.
On June 8, a photograph went viral showing at least three vehicles on fire. The company later increased the count to five cars and confirmed it was temporarily suspending service in response to the protests. Los Angeles Times reported that protesters threw Lime scooters at the vehicles to gain access to their interiors. Photographers also captured a person trying to break one of the front windows with a skateboard.
But why this aggressive attack on the company?
Protesters aren’t just destroying public property by setting Waymo cars on fire and obstructing police efforts. They’re also targeting the company for more profound reasons.
Since its launch, Waymo has experienced multiple attacks. In July 2024, a person was accused of slashing the tires on 17 Waymo vehicles. This wasn’t an isolated incident. In previous months, the company’s cars were also set on fire and vandalized in both Los Angeles and San Francisco, where they operate.
“There is no human element to Waymo. It's expensive and bought-out politicians are using it as an excuse to defund public transit. I pray on Waymo’s downfall,” Elise Joshi, a well-known climate activist, shared in a recent post on X.
Waymo’s service has consistently faced controversy. While it’s now approaching 800,000 monthly passengers, the company has had to contend with opposition from those who view the service as a threat to public transportation. Critics argue that it’s another tool for big tech companies to profit without creating jobs and that it complicates everyday mobility.
In recent years, robotaxi services have been associated with several mobility issues. Some problems are minor, such as the nearly 600 fines accumulated by Waymo cars for improper parking within a single year. However, there have also been more serious incidents, such as a Cruise car that parked on top of a woman who had been struck by another vehicle. Vehicles have also been reported to have hindered firefighters in their efforts.
The impact of these robotaxi companies is big, leading some to question whether they’re exacerbating housing problems in cities like San Francisco.
Constant Surveillance
There’s yet another reason why Waymo cars are frequently targeted for vandalism. Aside from the social or political motives behind these attacks, vandalizing a Waymo vehicle means police can’t use it.
According to Time magazine, law enforcement agencies often use Waymo’s cameras in their investigations. Each Waymo Jaguar I-Pace is equipped with 29 cameras that monitor everything happening around it, making these vehicles a valuable asset for police work.
In April, 404 Media reported that the Los Angeles Police Department uploaded a video to YouTube seeking public assistance to identify the driver involved in a hit-and-run incident unrelated to the robotaxi’s functionality.
Waymo said that it thoroughly reviews all police requests and doesn’t indiscriminately provide images. However, Bloomberg noted in 2023 that the practice of using these vehicles to assist in investigations has become increasingly common.
Moreover, Bloomberg reported that Waymo isn’t the only company contacted by police for information on potential crimes. Law enforcement has also sought footage from Tesla, given that its vehicles are continuously recording their surroundings. Concerns have been raised that Tesla may record its owners inside their homes without their consent.
Chris Gilliard, a member of the Social Science Research Council, told Bloomberg, “We’ve known for a long time that they are essentially surveillance cameras on wheels. We're supposed to be able to go about our business in our day-to-day lives without being surveilled unless we are suspected of a crime, and each little bit of this technology strips away that ability.”
Image | Hoseung Han
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