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posted by martyb on Friday February 08 2019, @03:39AM   Printer-friendly
from the where-there's-a-will-there's-a...waze dept.

NYPD asks Google to scrap Waze's DUI checkpoints

The NYPD has sent Google a cease-and-desist letter, asking it to axe a Waze feature that allows users to mark cops' locations on the navigation app. Based on the letter first seen by Streetsblog NYC and CBS New York, authorities believe the feature is making it harder to enforce the law and keep the roads safe. The NYPD sent the cease-and-desist just a couple of weeks after Waze debuted speed camera notifications, but the cops' letter mostly focused on the fact that the ability allows users to give each other a heads-up about sobriety checkpoints.

[...] [Based] on the statement it provided to NYT, [Google] doesn't have any intention to give in to the NYPD's demand. It told the publication that safety is a top priority for the company and that "informing drivers about upcoming speed traps allows them to be more careful and make safer decisions when they're on the road."

Also at Gizmodo.


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  • (Score: 2) by legont on Friday February 08 2019, @05:03PM (2 children)

    by legont (4179) on Friday February 08 2019, @05:03PM (#798404)

    I may be wrong, but I don't think google has anything to do with Waze app which is, as far as I know, an Israeli one. Wase maps allow (and stimulate) users to upload all kind of information about road hazards, including police activities. Other driving apps, Yandex being a good example, offer similar service. Because google does not, I use it much less. I'd stop using google completely, but they have better traffic information so far. However, this advantage is disappearing and google probably noticed it is loosing market share.

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  • (Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday February 09 2019, @04:14AM (1 child)

    by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Saturday February 09 2019, @04:14AM (#798698) Journal

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waze [wikipedia.org]

    The Israeli company Waze Mobile developed the Waze software. Ehud Shabtai, Amir Shinar and Uri Levine founded the company. Two Israeli venture capital firms, Magma and Vertex, and an early-stage American venture capital firm, Bluerun Ventures, provided funding. Google acquired Waze Mobile in 2013.

    Here's the letter. It's addressed to Google in Mountain View, California:

    https://cbsnewyork.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/googlellcdwicheckpoints-020219.pdf [wordpress.com]

    Maybe the confusion here is that Waze is not Google Maps. But it's not uncommon for a company to own multiple "competitors". Just look at Facebook's messaging services [soylentnews.org] or the many Procter & Gamble products at the supermarket. However, it could lead you to predict that Waze will eventually be shut down with some features merged into Google Maps.

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    • (Score: 2) by legont on Saturday February 09 2019, @04:24PM

      by legont (4179) on Saturday February 09 2019, @04:24PM (#798850)

      Wow, I did not know. So, Google probably collects user data from Waze, uses it to improve Google maps, but does not share back to Waze. Time to switch to Yandex indeed.

      --
      "Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.