Google Maps hides real-time traffic data in Israel and Gaza

Google parent company Alphabet is temporarily disabling real-time traffic data in its Maps and Waze services within Israel and the Gaza Strip. According to Bloomberg sources, the company did this at the request of the Israeli army. Google did the same in Ukraine last year.

A Google spokesperson confirmed the measure to Bloomberg news agency. “As we have done before in conflict situations and in response to the changing situation in the region, we have temporarily disabled the ability to view live traffic conditions and crowd information, out of respect for the safety of local communities,” it said company.

According to Bloomberg’s sources, Google disabled real-time data in its navigation services at the request of the Israel Defense Forces, ahead of a possible ground invasion of Gaza. Such data could reveal the movements of the Israeli army, the news agency writes.

Google Maps and Waze no longer display real-time traffic data in Israel and the Gaza Strip. Navigating users will still be able to view expected arrival times based on live traffic conditions, Google said. The Israeli tech website GeekTime, who first wrote about Google’s measure, reports that Apple has implemented a similar measure in Apple Maps. However, the tech giant has not yet responded to the messages.

Last year, Google also disabled real-time traffic data in Ukraine in its Maps service. The company did this after the Russian invasion of that country. Google also said at the time that the company did this ‘for the safety of local communities’. The tech giant did this in consultation with the Ukrainian authorities.