Your driving patterns and location history are being used to commercially profile you, which many users may not expect from a navigation app.
Consumer impact
Waze continuously collects your precise location data, driving behavior, search queries, and device identifiers, which may be shared with Google and third-party advertising partners. Your driving patterns and location history can be used to build a profile for targeted advertising even when the app is running in the background. You can request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal data by contacting Waze at waze-support@waze.com or through the in-app settings.
What you can do
⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
Delete Your Data
Open the Waze app, go to Settings, then Privacy, and review options to limit ad personalization. Additionally, use your device's system settings to opt out of ad tracking (iOS: Privacy > Tracking; Android: Google Settings > Ads).
Applicable agencies
FTC
The FTC regulates unfair or deceptive advertising practices and has taken action against companies that use personal data for advertising without adequate disclosure or opt-out mechanisms.
California residents have CCPA rights to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information for advertising, enforceable by the California Attorney General and California Privacy Protection Agency.