Waze collects your precise GPS location continuously while the app is in use, including in the background, to provide navigation and community-based traffic features.
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
The provision establishes a continuous location data collection practice that extends beyond active app usage, creating a persistent record of user movements and travel patterns. This operational scope affects the volume and temporal breadth of location data retained by the service and available for the stated analytical and notification purposes.
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 →Your precise location is collected at all times during app use and stored by Waze and Google, potentially used for advertising profiling and shared with third parties.
How other platforms handle this
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"This location and route information is saved to a route history of all of the journeys you have made while using the Application. The types of location data we collect depends in part on your device and account settings. For example, depending on your selected device settings and/or your account settings we may collect information about your location and travel (or lack thereof) also while you are not using the app, in order to be able to tell you when to leave for planned drives, notify you about bad traffic in your area, provide you parking assistance, analyze how effective our ads are and more.— Excerpt from Waze's Waze Privacy Policy
Persistent background location collection triggers heightened obligations under GDPR Article 9 (if sensitive inferences are drawn), CCPA's 'sensitive personal information' category, and requires clear disclosure of retention periods and third-party sharing chains.
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The provision establishes a continuous location data collection practice that extends beyond active app usage, creating a persistent record of user movements and travel patterns. This operational scope affects the volume and temporal breadth of location data retained by the service and available for the stated analytical and notification purposes.
Your precise location is collected at all times during app use and stored by Waze and Google, potentially used for advertising profiling and shared with third parties.
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