Smoke billows as a Waymo car burns in the street during protests in Los Angeles on June 8, 2025. Credit - David Pashaee—Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images Asprotesters and police clashacross Los Angeles andbeyond, a striking image from the mayhem has been that of graffiti-strewn white cars engulfed in flames. But these aren't ordinary cars. They've got sensors protruding from the top and sides—and, critically, they've got no drivers. Waymo, a robotaxi company, found itself at the center of the demonstrations against the Trump Administration's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids after a group of protesters over the weekend, according to theLos Angeles Times, approached a parked row of the autonomous vehicles and smashed their windows, slashed their tires, spray-painted them with anti-ICE slogans, and set them on fire. While eye-catching, the trend is also extremely dangerous. Electric vehicles, like those in Waymo's fleet, have lithium-ion batteries, and in apost on X, the L.A. Police Department warned: "Burning lithium-ion batteries release toxic gases, including hydrogen fluoride, posing risks to responders and those nearby." According toScientific American, first responders exposed to the fumes of burnt lithium-ion batteries without protection historically "have developed throat burns and breathing difficulties upon arriving," and, depending on the hydrogen fluoride levels, individuals can start coughing up blood within minutes of exposure. At least six Waymo vehicles across the county havereportedlybeen the target of vandalism, resulting in the company temporarily suspending operations in the area "out of an abundance of caution." California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have condemned the violence and destruction, whichNewsom attributed to "insurgent groups" and "anarchists"who have infiltrated otherwise peaceful protests. President Donald Trump, whomobilized the National Guardto respond to the situation, has called the demonstrators "troublemakers" and "paid insurrectionists." Here's what to know. Waymo is a subsidiary of Alphabet, Google's parent company, and grew out of the Google Self-Driving Car project that began in 2009. It launched its robotaxi business in 2020 in limited markets, which grew to include Los Angeles in 2024. While the company says itsmission"is to be the world's most trusted driver," anational survey earlier this yearfound that "6 in 10 U.S. drivers still report being afraid to ride in a self-driving vehicle" while the proportion of people enthusiastic about the development of the technology has actually decreased from 18% in 2022 to 13% in 2025. Waymo vehicles were involved in696 accidentsacross the U.S. between 2021 and 2024, or about one accident every other day. MKP Law Group, a Los-Angeles based firm that represents clients involved in accidents, acknowledged in ablog postthat this statistic "is not necessarily indicative of Waymo causing those accidents, as some may have been the fault of the other involved drivers." Studies show that self-driving technology is likelysaferthan most human drivers. Waymo has also reportedlyannoyedsome people, including those who find self-driving vehicles to be aneyesoreas well as locals where the vehiclesroutinely get stuck. Neighbors near a Waymo charging station in Santa Monica havecomplained about noise pollutioncaused by the driverless vehicles honking at each other in the parking lot. Waymo vehicles as well asother self-driving carshave previously been thetarget of vandals, particularly in California, where Waymo is headquartered. In January, a Waymo car wastorn apartin Los Angeles. In February 2024, another Waymo car wassmashed and set ablazein San Francisco. And in July 2024, a man was charged withslashing the tires of 17Waymo cars in San Francisco. Several potential explanations have emerged for why Waymo vehicles were targeted during the protests in Los Angeles. TheWall Street Journalreported that part of the reason the cars were vandalized was to obstruct traffic—a traditional, albeit controversial,protest tactic. Somesocial mediausers havesuggestedthat self-driving vehicles in particular have become a new target because they are seen by protesters as "part of the police surveillance state." Waymo'scarsare equipped with cameras that provide a 360-degree view of their surroundings, a tool that has been tapped by law enforcement, according to reports. Independent tech news site404 Mediareported in April that the Los Angeles Police Department obtainedfootagefrom a Waymo driverless car to use as part of an investigation into an unrelated hit-and-run. AndBloombergreported in 2023 that police have increasingly relied on self-driving cars and their cameras for video evidence. Chris Gilliard, a fellow at the Social Science Research Council, told Bloomberg that self-driving vehicles are "essentially surveillance cameras on wheels," adding: "We're supposed to be able to go about our business in our day-to-day lives without being surveilled unless we are suspected of a crime, and each little bit of this technology strips away that ability." Waymo told Bloomberg at the time that it "carefully" reviews every request from police "to make sure it satisfies applicable laws and has a valid legal process." Some activists have also suggested that the burning of Waymo vehicles should garner less sympathy from onlookers. "There are people on here saying it's violent and domestic terrorism to set a Waymo car on fire," racial justice organizer Samuel Sinyangwepostedon X. "A robot car? Are you going to demand justice for the robot dogs next? But not the human beings repeatedly shot with rubber bullets in the street? What kind of politics is this?" "There is no human element to Waymo," climate and labor organizer Elise Joshi similarlypostedon X. "It's expensive and bought-out politicians are using it as an excuse to defund public transit. I pray on Waymo's downfall." Contact usatletters@time.com.
