Google Disables Live Map Data in Israel and Gaza

Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet, announced the suspension of live traffic conditions in Israel and the Gaza Strip for mapping applications and Waze at the request of the Israeli military, ahead of a potential ground invasion of the territory. A spokesperson for Google stated: "As we have done previously in conflict situations, and in response to the evolving situation in the region, we have temporarily disabled the ability to see live traffic conditions and occupancy information, considering the safety of local communities." According to an official familiar with the matter, Google removed real-time congestion data in Israel and Gaza at the request of the Israeli Defense Forces, as live traffic information could reveal the movements of Israeli troops. The Israeli technology site GeekTime, which reported this development first, noted that Apple's mapping application also complied with the request of the Israeli military. The company took similar actions in Ukraine last year after the outbreak of war, suspending real-time vehicle and traffic data.