Waymo is currently the leader in robotaxis in the United States, and because of that position, its vehicles have been targeted by vandals multiple times in the last year, most recently in Los Angeles over the weekend. On the sidelines of TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said the vandalism of Waymo’s robotaxi “will not be tolerated.”
“Obviously, vandalism is a crime, so we’re very focused on working with law enforcement to make sure we go after the people who are committing these crimes against our fleet,” Mawakana told TechCrunch. “It doesn’t matter whose fleet it is. It’s unacceptable, it’s not okay, so it’s damaging property? We don’t stand for it.”
Concerns about privacy and surveillance have been a major issue during protests during the second Trump administration, especially as the government ramps up deportation efforts. At the same time, widespread public resistance to tech companies, especially those that enable surveillance, resulted in multiple Waymo vehicles being damaged and burned by vandals.
In an interview on Monday’s Main Stage, Mawakana reiterated previous comments that Waymo refuses government requests for footage taken by Waymo vehicles if they are “overbroad and illegal.”
When asked backstage what Waymo is doing to change perceptions of its vehicles, Mawakana pointed to the company’s efforts to feature local artist designs on some of its vehicles as part of a broader effort to “make the fleet more part of the community.” But while Waymo often denies surveillance requests, she said the company “must continue to work with first responders to address this challenge” of vandalism.
“They don’t want that in their city. It doesn’t keep people safe. We don’t want that,” she said.
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