Waymo robotaxi riders report surprise age verification calls in the middle of their journeys
A South Park Commons partner with achondroplasia said his Waymo ride was flagged despite him being 39 years old
Getting carded by a server has long been considered an unintentional compliment — a subtle suggestion that you look younger than your years. In 2026, the same experience is playing out inside Waymo robotaxis, and riders are taking to social media to share their bemused reactions.
The mid-ride age check
In recent weeks, a growing number of Waymo passengers have reported receiving calls from remote support agents during their trips, asking them to confirm their age.
In one TikTok video that circulated online, a support agent can be heard saying: "We received a notification that there is a minor riding in the vehicle. Can I confirm, 'How old are you?'" The rider's reply: "I'm 31!"
Waymo prohibits riders under 18 from using its robotaxis without adult supervision. In Phoenix, the company offers teen accounts for passengers aged 14 to 17. Despite this, some parents have been using the service as an informal chauffeur for their underage children, prompting the company to take action.
AI cameras and no facial recognition
To enforce its age policy, Waymo uses in-cabin cameras to flag potential violations, supplemented by AI and machine learning models. The company has clarified that it does not use facial recognition or biometric identification to identify passengers.
A Waymo spokesperson confirmed the approach: "For the safety of our riders, we have policies in place to help us identify violations of our terms of service, including age eligibility. At times, we may contact riders to verify they are aged 18 years or older — or 14-17 for authorised teen accounts in Phoenix."
Adults carded — and some are flattered
The system is far from infallible. Seema Amble, a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, posted on X after her mid-ride verification call: "I got a @Waymo age verification call in the middle of my ride today. Is this the new version of getting carded? Should I be flattered?"
Social media user @clarahyee seized the moment to share her skincare routine with followers after being flagged by both Waymo and Uber. "Here's the skincare routine that made Waymo AND Uber think I'm a minor," she said in her video.
An edge case that the algorithm didn't anticipate
The system has also flagged passengers in more complex circumstances. Danh Trang, a partner at South Park Commons, shared on X that he has achondroplasia — a genetic condition affecting bone growth and the most common form of dwarfism, occurring in approximately 1 in 15,000 to 1 in 40,000 births, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
At 4'2" and 39 years of age, his ride was flagged by Waymo. "I'm 39. I have achondroplasia. I'm 4'2"," Trang wrote. "@Waymo, hope this makes it into a future model update." He added that it was a "pretty typical achondroplasia experience" and that he mostly shared it because he "thought it was funny."
A Waymo spokesperson said the company will continue to refine its systems and processes for accuracy over time.
A broader picture of life with robotaxis
Waymo's age-verification quirks are just one of many novel experiences reshaping urban life in cities where the robotaxis operate. In San Francisco, riders have used the vehicles as mobile offices, women have given birth inside them, and DoorDash drivers have earned extra income by closing doors left ajar.
Less charmingly, persistent honking at charging depots has become a reported nuisance, and a major power outage in December 2025 left Waymos stranded in the middle of intersections across the city.
Privacy advocates have also raised concerns. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has warned that the volume of visual data collected by a fleet of camera-equipped vehicles travelling public streets creates risks of surveillance and tracking.
"The sheer amount of visual and other information collected by a fleet of cars travelling down public streets conjures the threat of the possibility for peoples' movements to be tracked, aggregated, and retained by companies, law enforcement, or bad actors — including vendor employees," the EFF wrote in a blog post.
Waymo says it protects rider privacy whilst using cameras to identify policy violations. For those who get carded, the company's message is unspoken but clear: yes, Waymo is watching — but at least you look good.
