US company pauses driverless taxis in downtown Los Angeles amid protest attacks

Waymo, the US leading autonomous taxi operator, has temporarily suspended the deployment of its self-driving vehicles in downtown Los Angeles after a series of attacks during recent protests. 

While the company continues to operate in other parts of the city, it has paused sending vehicles into the protest-affected central district, Caliber.Az reports via the website on technology and internet reporting. 

A company spokesperson stated that Waymo is collaborating closely with local law enforcement to evaluate the situation and decide when it will be safe to resume full service. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to recover and remove vehicles that were damaged or set ablaze. The total number of Waymo cars damaged or destroyed remains uncertain. Social media footage and reports indicate that multiple autonomous taxis were targeted by demonstrators.

The reasons behind the attacks are unclear. Some analysts suggest the vehicles might have been caught up in the unrest unintentionally, while others believe individuals may have used the robotaxis to move through protest areas. Another possibility is that police directed the vehicles into hotspots for monitoring, given that Waymo cars are equipped with live-streaming cameras. These recordings could assist law enforcement in identifying participants involved in unlawful activities.

By Naila Huseynova