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Waymo robotaxis had been vandalized and set on fireplace amid protests in Los Angeles over federal immigration raids and the presence of ICE, with chaotic scenes drawing comparisons to science fiction.
At least 5 self-driving autos had been set ablaze in Boyle Heights and downtown LA, the place demonstrators appeared to focus on the robotaxis in the course of the top of the unrest. According to The Washington Post, Waymo quickly suspended its robotaxi service within the affected areas because the unrest escalated.
Protesters smash home windows, slash Waymo tires
After the protests intensified, some demonstrators attacked Waymo autos by smashing home windows, slashing tires, and spray-painting anti-ICE messages, in response to the Los Angeles Times.
Clips circulating on-line confirmed folks climbing onto the automobiles as flames erupted, leaving a number of items severely broken. Brian Stelter of CNN referred to as the occasions “something out of a dystopian sci-fi novel.”
Waymo confirmed that the automobiles had been unoccupied in the course of the assaults and that no passengers or employees had been injured. The firm is working with the Los Angeles Police Department and different native businesses to analyze.
Why Waymo turned a goal
Protesters could have considered Waymo’s autos as rolling surveillance hubs. According to TIME, the autos are geared up with 360-degree cameras, and pictures from these automobiles has been utilized by regulation enforcement, together with the LAPD, for investigations. Some critics argue that these autos contribute to heightened police presence in immigrant communities and symbolize automated surveillance enabled by synthetic intelligence.
The autos have additionally been described as symbols of company expertise in public areas. Some residents see the presence of self-driving automobiles as an indication of speedy tech enlargement in areas already going through points like gentrification and displacement. The affiliation with AI firms and data-gathering instruments has fueled tensions, significantly in regulation enforcement and immigration raid protests.
However, a Waymo spokesperson mentioned that the corporate has “no reason to believe” the autos had been particularly focused, explaining some had been finishing drop-offs close by.
History of assaults on driverless autos
Waymo’s robotaxis have confronted repeated acts of vandalism in recent times. In January, an unoccupied car was severely broken in Beverly Grove, Los Angeles, after people shattered home windows and tore off its doorways. A yr earlier, a Waymo automobile was additionally vandalized and set on fireplace in San Francisco’s Chinatown throughout Lunar New Year celebrations.
Similar incidents have occurred in San Francisco’s Mission District, the place the autonomous autos had been defaced.
Read eWeek’s protection of Tesla refining its robotaxi trademark technique after USPTO pushback, which particulars how the corporate is adjusting its branding efforts following regulatory hurdles.
