Alphabet
Alphabet has been named in 2 documented digital harm incidents, including 1 involving minor. The most common harm domain is Autonomous Systems.
Documented Incidents
2Waymo recalls over 3,000 autonomous vehicles after software allowed passing stopped school buses
Waymo, the autonomous‑vehicle unit of Alphabet, announced a recall of 3,067 robotaxis after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration identified a software defect that caused the cars to drive around stopped school buses, ignoring flashing red lights and extended stop arms. The issue was uncovered following 20 reported incidents in Austin, Texas, and six similar cases in Atlanta, leading NHTSA to issue a recall notice on November 8 2025. Waymo deployed a software fix by November 17, affecting its fifth‑generation automated driving systems deployed in multiple U.S. cities. The recall highlights safety concerns for driverless ride‑hailing services.
Waymo robotaxis collide with gates and chains in 16 incidents, triggering NHTSA investigation and recall
Between December 2022 and April 2024, Waymo autonomous vehicles experienced at least seven low-speed collisions with stationary and semi-stationary objects such as gates and chains — obstacles that human drivers would normally avoid. NHTSA opened a preliminary investigation in May 2024. Waymo subsequently reported nine additional collisions with similar barriers, bringing the total to 16. No injuries were reported. The failures were attributed to the fifth-generation Automated Driving System's inability to reliably classify thin or semi-stationary objects under certain conditions. Waymo deployed a software fix in November 2024 and formally issued a recall for 1,212 vehicles in May 2025 after the fix had already been applied. The recall followed two earlier 2024 Waymo software recalls: one in February after two robotaxis struck the same tow truck, and one in June after a vehicle hit a telephone pole in Phoenix.