Waze · Waze Privacy Policy · View original document ↗

Continuous and Background Location Collection

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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

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

Continuous background location collection enables the service to maintain navigation functionality and map data accuracy while also supporting the advertising model described in the policy. The authorization extends to periods when the app is not actively in the foreground, which affects the scope and frequency of data collection.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

Medium May 5, 2026

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.

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Medium Apr 19, 2026

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.

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Medium Mar 23, 2026

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 →

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Users operating the Waze application are subject to ongoing collection of precise GPS coordinates both during active navigation and while the app operates in the background. The terms authorize use of this location data for service provision, product improvement, and advertising purposes as detailed in the policy.

How other platforms handle this

Airbnb Medium

We collect information about your precise or approximate location as determined through data such as your IP address, GPS, and other inputs from your device, with your permission where required. We may use this information to provide, personalize, and improve our services, and for safety purposes.

Anthropic Medium

Device and Connection Information. Consistent with your device or browser permissions, your device or browser automatically sends us information about when and how you install, access, or use our Services. This includes information such as your device type, operating system information, browser info...

Windsurf Medium

Real-time Personalization: Even without a trigger such as a keystroke or user prompt input, requests are made in the background to build context, understand developer intent, or scan for potential next steps. Ahead-of-time Personalization: To build state on the existing codebases and other data sour...

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
When you use Waze, we collect your precise location data, including GPS coordinates, in real time. This includes collection while the app is running in the background on your device. We use this data to provide navigation services, improve our maps, and for other purposes described in this policy, including advertising.

— Excerpt from Waze's Waze Privacy Policy

Applicable regulations

CCPA/CPRA
California, USA
Connecticut Data Privacy Act Amendments
US-CT
CAN-SPAM
United States Federal
ePrivacy Directive
European Union
FTC Act Section 5
United States Federal
GDPR
European Union
Indiana Consumer Data Protection Act
US-IN
Kentucky Consumer Data Protection Act
US-KY
Universal Opt-Out Mechanism Expansion 2026
US

Provision details

Document information
Document
Waze Privacy Policy
Entity
Waze
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 11, 2026
Last verified
May 12, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-005103
Document ID
CA-D-00323
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
20ecc6f25312a12f14c0e0f1ef34ac6de707e4dff155d666a54730feec8142c3
Analysis generated
May 11, 2026 22:53 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Waze
Document: Waze Privacy Policy
Record ID: CA-P-005103
Captured: 2026-05-11 22:53:58 UTC
SHA-256: 20ecc6f25312a12f…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/waze/waze-privacy-policy/continuous-and-background-location-collection/
Accessed: May 20, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

Other risks in this policy

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Built from archived source documents, structured governance mappings, and historical version tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Waze's Continuous and Background Location Collection clause do?

Continuous background location collection enables the service to maintain navigation functionality and map data accuracy while also supporting the advertising model described in the policy. The authorization extends to periods when the app is not actively in the foreground, which affects the scope and frequency of data collection.

How does this clause affect you?

Users operating the Waze application are subject to ongoing collection of precise GPS coordinates both during active navigation and while the app operates in the background. The terms authorize use of this location data for service provision, product improvement, and advertising purposes as detailed in the policy.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Waze?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Waze.