Waymo says its rider vehicles record interior video during trips, while interior microphones are active during Rider Support calls or when riders choose to enable them. Those are general service practices. The separate concern about Waymo’s China-built Ojai robotaxis came from autonomous-vehicle researcher Missy Cummings, who called for an independent technical examination in an AZFamily report published October 28, 2026.
Why the Ojai drew a security warning
Cummings, a researcher at George Mason University and former senior safety adviser at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, urged an independent review of possible surveillance technology or exploitable security vulnerabilities in the Ojai. Her warning described a risk to investigate, not a technical finding about the vehicles.
AZFamily identified Zeekr as the Ojai’s manufacturer in China. Waymo said it installs its cameras, sensors and self-driving systems in Mesa, Arizona. The company also said the completed vehicles have no Chinese software or connectivity, and that Zeekr cannot communicate with them remotely or send software updates.
What Waymo says its vehicles record
Waymo’s published camera and microphone guidance says the company records video inside its vehicles during trips. It lists uses including checking cleanliness, finding lost items, providing emergency assistance, checking in-car rules, improving the service, and supporting safety and security. Support may review video in certain circumstances and may access live video in more urgent cases. Waymo’s camera and microphone guidance
The same guidance says interior microphones are active during Rider Support calls or when a rider chooses to enable them. Outside the vehicle, Waymo says cameras support vehicle operation and microphones detect police and emergency sirens, with safeguards designed to limit collection of human voice data. Waymo also says it does not use facial recognition or other biometric identification technologies to identify individuals.
When Waymo says it may share data
Waymo says it may share certain data with law enforcement to comply with legal requirements, enforce agreements, or protect safety. The company says law-enforcement requests should follow valid legal processes. This is a description of Waymo’s general rider-service practices; Cummings’ Ojai concern focused on the vehicle’s manufacturing and possible security risks.
