If you use the Waze Carpooling feature, the app may access your phone's contact list and collect detailed trip information including your exact pick-up and drop-off locations and any messages exchanged between you and your driver or rider.
This analysis describes what Waze's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This provision authorizes access to contact lists and collection of communications content as a condition of using the Carpooling feature, extending data collection beyond navigation use to include third-party personal data (your contacts) and interpersonal communications.
Interpretive note: The policy does not specify the legal basis under GDPR for processing personal data of contacts who are not Waze users, creating ambiguity about compliance with GDPR's lawful basis requirements for third-party data.
The updated policy now explicitly discloses that Waze periodically collects all phone numbers stored on your device's contact book as part of the 'find friends' feature. According to the revised terms, these phone numbers are collected in a form that is initially anonymous to Waze and are used to help create a list of other Waze users you may know. The policy clarifies that names, addresses, and other contact information are not collected from your phone book, though such information may be saved locally on your device for local searches. Additionally, the updated terms now explicitly authorize connecting your Waze account to social network accounts and sharing profile information from those networks. You can control whether to use the 'find friends' feature and whether to connect social network accounts to your Waze account.
View change record →The updated policy removes explicit language describing how Waze collects phone numbers from device contact books and integrates social network accounts. Previously, the policy stated that Waze would 'periodically collect all of the phone numbers which are stored on your device's phone contacts book' and described how this information was used for the 'find friends' feature. The revised policy no longer includes these specific disclosures. This does not necessarily mean the practices have stopped, but it means the policy provides less transparency about what data Waze collects from your device and how it uses contact information. Users who relied on these detailed descriptions to understand Waze's data practices will find the updated policy less explicit on these points.
View change record →The updated privacy policy now explicitly discloses that Waze periodically collects all phone numbers stored in your device's contact book as part of the 'find friends' feature. According to the policy, this information is collected in an anonymous form to Waze and is used to identify other Waze users you may know. The terms also clarify that social network information can be shared with Waze and other users if you choose to connect your social network account. While the policy states that names, addresses, and other contact book information are not collected, some contact information may be saved locally on your device for local search purposes. You can control whether this feature operates by not using the 'find friends' feature or by not granting the app contact access through your device settings.
View change record →Users who enable Carpooling consent to Waze accessing their contacts list (which contains information about people who may not themselves be Waze users) and collecting pick-up and drop-off addresses and driver-rider communications; users who do not use Carpooling are not subject to this provision.
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"If you choose to use the Carpooling feature, we may access your contacts list to help you connect with other users. We may also collect information about your trips, including pick-up and drop-off locations, travel times, and communications between drivers and riders.— Excerpt from Waze's Waze Privacy Policy
1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Access to a user's contact list involves processing personal data of third parties (the contacts) who have not provided consent to Waze, which raises GDPR compliance questions regarding lawful basis for processing data of non-users. Under CCPA/CPRA, contact list data may constitute personal information requiring disclosure. Communications content collected between drivers and riders may engage stored communications privacy considerations depending on jurisdiction. 2) GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The contacts access provision creates exposure regarding the processing of third-party personal data without direct consent from those individuals. GDPR's requirements for a lawful basis apply to all personal data processed, including that of non-users whose information appears in a consenting user's contact list. 3) JURISDICTION FLAGS: EU/EEA jurisdictions present heightened exposure due to GDPR requirements for lawful basis when processing third-party contact data. The policy does not specify what legal basis applies to contact data of non-users. Illinois users should note that while contact list data is not biometric, the state's consumer protection framework may be relevant if contact data is used for profiling. 4) CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Organizations whose employees use Waze Carpooling for business travel should assess whether corporate contact data may be accessed and processed by Waze, particularly where employees have business contacts stored on personal devices. 5) COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Compliance teams should verify that the Carpooling feature's contact access is opt-in and gated by a specific permission request, and that users can revoke contact access without losing core navigation functionality. The legal basis for processing contact data of non-users should be identified and documented in GDPR compliance records.
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This provision authorizes access to contact lists and collection of communications content as a condition of using the Carpooling feature, extending data collection beyond navigation use to include third-party personal data (your contacts) and interpersonal communications.
Users who enable Carpooling consent to Waze accessing their contacts list (which contains information about people who may not themselves be Waze users) and collecting pick-up and drop-off addresses and driver-rider communications; users who do not use Carpooling are not subject to this provision.
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