this post was submitted on 07 Feb 2026
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They're running red team hacking scenarios, an extremely standard, common, and good practice in the cybersecurity industry. Any device, especially one connected to the internet, is at risk of being hacked - it would be naive to assume otherwise, so they're hiring professionals to penetrate their security before someone else does. This is actually a sign they're taking security seriously.
Also, from the article: "they do not remotely drive the vehicles".
You may quote and repeat this as much as you like... ;-)
Do you actually have any evidence Waymo staff can remotely drive their vehicles? Or are you just tilting at windmills? I don't really appreciate the insinuation that I am some rube by someone evidently unaware of basic cybersecurity concepts.
There are real problems with this arrangement that should be focused on rather than vague speculations - i.e. the exploitation of developing nations by the machine learning/tech industry.
(not op) Right here. It's the only place they've ever admitted its possible.
https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/-/media/cpuc-website/divisions/consumer-protection-and-enforcement-division/documents/tlab/av-programs/tcp0038152a-waymo-al-0003_a1b.pdf
Hmm interesting, thanks for the link!
I have expressed my belief, or my doubt, however you want to look at it.
I can assure you that is not the case. I work in IT, all my life, much longer than you, and I know all of it's basic concepts.
Think: what would happen when such a car gets stuck and the remote operator can't achieve anything with "giving directions"? He needs some stronger action. Maybe he needs to "escalate" to some "senior". What would that person do?
There is the possibility of remote steering, and I think they would use it, 10 out of 10 times, instead of telling their passengers that they give up now and everybody must leave the car.
“I work in IT, all my life, much longer than you, and I know all its basic concepts.”
And anyone who’s spent their life working in IT would laugh you out of the room for that sentence. Lost all credibility with that BS.
For future reference, here's your proof its possible to be remotely moved, which means a hacker could exploit it.
https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/-/media/cpuc-website/divisions/consumer-protection-and-enforcement-division/documents/tlab/av-programs/tcp0038152a-waymo-al-0003_a1b.pdf
No. They just end the ride and send somebody from the local depot to drive the car back to the garage.
Source: I was on Waymo's Fleet Response team for a year doing literally this job that is now outsourced overseas. While the tech exists for full remote steering, NHTSA regulations disallow it, and that's one of the few agencies that Google actually has to abide by if they want to drive their cars on public roads.
Good to hear. Thanks for sharing this.
But still, if I were some higher manager there, then I would probably think a little different than you honest people:
You and every other conspiracy theorist can express your unevidenced beliefs how you like, this conversation clearly isn't worth my time.