Waze
Updated Sep 16, 2026 — see what changed
Your location tracked even when app isn't active
Waze collects detailed GPS data continuously—not just during navigation—to send traffic alerts and parking help, which is possible without your knowledge if you haven't explicitly disabled it.
Google shares your driving patterns across products
Waze (owned by Google) automatically shares your de-identified location and route data with other Google mapping and navigation services, merging your movement history across multiple products you may not realize are connected.
Traffic reports publicly tied to your username and location
When you report road incidents (accidents, congestion, hazards), your username and approximate location near that incident are posted publicly on the Waze map permanently, creating a searchable record of where you've been and when.