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In recent reports, netizens learned that traffic data on Google Maps and Waze have been shut down in Israel. This shutdown is to ensure the safety of those living in territories that might be under attack. The data those living in these areas can’t receive are relating to traffic alerts on both navigation platforms.
Ever since the start of this war, Google has put out efforts to ensure the safety of its Israeli employees. This new move, blocking traffic data on its navigation apps, will help to ensure the safety of its staff. Not only will this protect Google’s own, but it’ll also help protect citizens in various areas.
On Waze, these changes seem to be available to only areas around Gaza where the conflict is at its peak. However, on Google Maps, this restriction of access to traffic data is nationwide. You might be wondering how blocking access to traffic data in Israel will help keep citizens safe from the Hamas attacks in various regions.
Google and Waze are blocking access to traffic data on their platforms
Why is Google blocking access to traffic data in Israel during the Hamas conflict? Well, the aim is to keep users safe from possible attacks by Hamas on innocent civilians. With access to traffic data from Google Maps and Waze, Hamas can learn where there are many people at a given time and then launch an attack.
Without access to traffic data from these navigation apps, Hamas won’t be able to use it to cause harm. This isn’t the first time that Google is blocking access to traffic data in a crisis. During the start of the Russian-Ukraine conflict last year, Google didn’t permit access to traffic data in certain regions.
By doing this, Google was able to play its role in helping to keep innocent civilians safe. Now with the Israel-Hamas conflict, Google is again playing its part to keep innocent civilians safe. Users of the Google Maps and Waze apps in Israel will be able to access navigation features, but not live traffic updates.
On Waze, users get a prompt that reads “Due to the security situation other drivers, traffic jams, traffic reports, and other alerts will not be displayed.” However, users of Waze in other parts of the country are still able to access the full function of this app, including live traffic data. On the Google Maps app, however, regardless of the user’s location in the country, they won’t be able to access live traffic data.
Other reports also point out that Israel is blocking off or disrupting GPS in war zones. This action can affect the usage of apps that rely on GPS data to function properly. While netizens hope that this conflict comes to a peaceful end soon, Google and other big tech firms try to play their part to keep innocent civilians safe.