Google Maps, Waze disable their live traffic feature in Israel

Google Maps and Waze, both owned by Google, stop live streaming of traffic conditions in Israel, says Geek Hour (via CNN). Google spoke with regional and local authorities, among other sources, before deciding to remove this feature from its navigation applications. A Google spokesperson said: “As we have done previously in conflict situations and in response to developments in the region, we have temporarily disabled the ability to see live traffic conditions and commercial information, out of concern for the safety of local communities. »

We don’t know how long Google Maps and Waze will turn off live traffic information in Israel, but Google noted that “anyone navigating to a specific location will still get directions and ETAs that take current traffic conditions into account.”

You may remember that in February 2022, Google Maps traffic in Ukraine tripled when the war with Russia broke out, with many looking to cross the border into Poland. But Google then temporarily disabled Google Maps in the country, a move it said was taken to protect the safety of users in the region.

In this case, Google is making this decision while Israel is reportedly planning a ground invasion of Gaza. The report notes that it is unclear whether real-world traffic conditions will be disabled in Israel, Gaza, or both. It is also unclear whether the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) asked Google to take this step to hide the location of its troops. It’s worth noting that Waze was launched in Israel and acquired by Google in 2013. Last year, Google Maps and Waze merged their separate teams into a single unit.

While Google Maps not only takes you quickly and safely from point “A” to point “B”, it also tells you where to find a good meal once you arrive at your destination, the best places to spend the night, what activities and entertainment are offered, but also places of historical or other interest. Waze, on the other hand, focuses on navigation and draws on information from multiple sources to convey potential issues such as heavy traffic, accidents, police activity, road issues, and weather issues. .