Google has disabled traffic data in Israel and the Gaza Strip – Kommersant
[ad_1]
The American company Google has disabled traffic data in its Google Maps and Waze applications in Israel and the Gaza Strip. According to information Bloombergrepresentatives of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) made such a request to Google amid preparations for a ground operation in the Gaza Strip.
“As we have done in conflict situations and in response to the evolving situation in the region, we have temporarily disabled the ability to view real-time traffic and congestion information for security reasons,” Google said in a statement, as cited by the agency.
The decision to disable some features in Google Maps and Waze is because real-time traffic information could be used to provide insight into Israeli troop movements, according to a Bloomberg person familiar with the discussions. The agency’s source claims that Google removed the traffic information at the request of the IDF.
At the same time, Google assured that despite the fact that the applications will not show real-time traffic information, drivers using navigation systems will continue to receive an estimated time of arrival based on real-world conditions.
Bloomberg notes that Google has resorted to similar practices in the past. Thus, in March 2022, after the entry of Russian troops into Ukraine, the company turned off ability to view traffic and congestion information in real time.
According to the IDF statement, the ground operation in the Gaza Strip will be a response to a massive rocket attack and the infiltration of Palestinian Hamas militants into the country on October 7. Since that day, Israel and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, have been at war. The Israeli side reported that more than 1.4 thousand people were killed during the fighting, and hundreds were taken prisoner. According to the Ministry of Health of the Gaza Strip, the victims of the war become over 5 thousand people.
About the risks of expanding the conflict – in the material “Kommersant” “Hezbollah is preparing a second front”.
[ad_2]
Source link
