Waymo Sues California DMV to Block Release of Autonomous Crash Data
Waymo takes legal action against the California DMV to prevent the public release of its autonomous vehicle crash data, claiming the information contains valuable trade secrets.
Waymo files a lawsuit against the California Department of Motor Vehicles to keep its autonomous vehicle crash data private. The legal battle stems from a public records request by an unidentified party seeking crash information that Waymo submits to the DMV as part of its commercial operating application. While the DMV initially complies with the request, it allows Waymo to redact certain information, which the requester promptly challenges.
The Alphabet-owned company argues that releasing its internal crash analysis process provides strategic insight to competitors and third parties. Waymo claims that exposing this data reveals how the company assesses collisions and develops technological fixes, creating a "chilling effect" that could dissuade further innovation across the entire self-driving car industry.
Despite this legal fight over specific redacted data, Waymo continues to operate its driverless taxi service in San Francisco and San Mateo counties under a commercial permit granted in September 2021. A company spokesperson insists that Waymo remains transparent about its safety readiness and expresses hope for a quick resolution with the DMV regarding what information is appropriate for public release.