Apple, Google and Waze, three popular providers of real-time map platforms, have all disabled live traffic data on their maps in Israel and Gaza. The move comes at the request of the Israeli Defense Forces to prevent anyone from using the tools to determine troop movements in the area.
The platforms use anonymized user data collected from smartphones in an area to display traffic patterns in real time, helping users determine the best route to take. In previous conflicts, grass-roots organizations have used these apps to track the movement of troops. Last year people all over the world were able to use them to watch Russia’s invasion of Ukraine’s eastern border as it unfolded, looking like a traffic jam on the maps.
A spokesperson for Google told Gizmodo that the company “temporarily disabled the ability to see live traffic conditions and busyness information out of consideration for the safety of local communities.” Certain data is still viewable on the map, like stuck vehicles and road work, but traffic patterns are no longer accessible.
