Waymo faces questions about its use of onboard cameras for AI training, ads targeting

In a memorable scene from the 2002 sci-fi movie Minority Report, protagonist John Anderton, portrayed by Tom Cruise, navigates through a mall while being bombarded with personalized ads from brands like Lexus, Guinness, and American Express, triggered by hidden eye detection technology.

This depiction served as a cautionary tale about a potential dystopian future.

Fast forward 23 years, and elements of that future are becoming a reality in the digital realm, posing a threat to other connected aspects of daily life, including the interior of vehicles. According to online security researcher Jane Manchun Wong, automated-driving vehicles like Waymo’s robotaxis may become the new testing grounds for this technology.

Wong recently revealed an unreleased version of Waymo’s privacy policy, hinting at the company’s intention to utilize data from its robotaxis, including interior cameras, for training generative AI models and delivering targeted advertisements.

The unreleased privacy statement from Waymo mentions, “Waymo may share data to improve and analyze its functionality and to tailor products, services, ads, and offers to your interests. You can opt out of sharing your information with third parties, unless it’s necessary to the functioning of the service.”

When asked for clarification regarding the unreleased app update, Waymo informed The Verge that the text was merely a placeholder and does not accurately reflect the intended purpose of the feature.

Waymo’s spokesperson, Julia Ilina, reassured that the AI models are not designed to identify individuals based on this data, and there are no plans to use it for targeted advertising purposes.

Although Waymo’s robotaxis in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin are equipped with onboard cameras to monitor riders, Ilina explains that these cameras primarily serve safety purposes, lost item retrieval, rule enforcement, and service enhancement.

The new feature is still in development and will provide riders with the option to opt out of data collection, according to Ilina.

As we become accustomed to targeted ads based on our online activities, the once-far-off vision of a future with personalized advertising in every aspect of our lives may be closer than we realize.