Waymo Faces Pushback Over Self-Driving Vehicles

Autonomous driving company defends remote guidance system as critics raise concerns over job losses

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Waymo, the autonomous driving company owned by Alphabet, is facing criticism from Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Massachusetts) and the Teamsters union over its use of remote personnel in the Philippines to provide guidance to its self-driving vehicles. While Waymo says these operators do not actually drive the cars, Markey has accused the company of trying to replace the jobs of taxi and rideshare drivers. The article argues that the safety benefits of self-driving cars outweigh the potential job disruption, and that the data shows Waymo's vehicles are involved in fewer crashes than human drivers.

Why it matters

The debate over self-driving cars highlights the tension between technological progress and protecting existing jobs. As autonomous vehicles become more prevalent, there are concerns about the impact on industries like taxi and trucking. However, proponents argue that the safety benefits of self-driving cars, which could save thousands of lives annually, should take priority over preserving some jobs.

The details

Waymo currently provides around 400,000 robotaxi rides per week and has thousands of employees in the U.S. The company uses remote personnel in the Philippines to provide guidance to its vehicles in tricky situations, though these operators do not actually drive the cars. Sen. Markey has criticized Waymo for trying to replace the jobs of taxi and rideshare drivers, while the Teamsters union is working to get self-driving cars banned in Massachusetts. Waymo data shows its vehicles are involved in fewer crashes causing serious injuries compared to human drivers.

  • On January 23, a child stepped in front of a Waymo vehicle in Santa Monica, California, but the car braked from 17 mph to 6 mph, causing only minor injuries.
  • As of September 2025, Waymo driverless vehicles had carried passengers for more than 127 million miles without being at fault in any fatal crashes.

The players

Waymo

An autonomous driving company owned by Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

Sen. Edward J. Markey

A Democratic senator from Massachusetts who has criticized Waymo for trying to replace the jobs of taxi and rideshare drivers.

Teamsters

A labor union that is making efforts to get self-driving cars banned in Massachusetts.

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What they’re saying

“Waymo is trying to replace the jobs of hardworking taxi and rideshare drivers.”

— Sen. Edward J. Markey, U.S. Senator

What’s next

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the incident in Santa Monica where a Waymo vehicle braked to avoid hitting a child.

The takeaway

While the transition to self-driving cars may disrupt some industries, the data shows these vehicles are substantially safer than human drivers, potentially saving thousands of lives annually. Policymakers must balance the need to protect jobs with the imperative to embrace life-saving technology.