Federal safety regulators are once again taking a hard look at self-driving cars after a serious incident involving Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company owned by Alphabet.

This time, the investigation centers on a Waymo vehicle that struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California, during morning drop-off hours. The crash happened Jan. 23 and raised immediate questions about how autonomous vehicles behave around children, school zones and unpredictable pedestrian movement.

On Jan. 29, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed it had opened a new preliminary investigation into Waymo’s automated driving system.

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What happened near the Santa Monica school?

According to documents posted by NHTSA, the crash occurred within two blocks of an elementary school during normal drop-off hours. The area was busy. There were multiple children present, a crossing guard on duty and several vehicles double-parked along the street.

Investigators say the child ran into the roadway from behind a double-parked SUV while heading toward the school. The Waymo vehicle struck the child, who suffered minor injuries. No safety operator was inside the vehicle at the time.

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation is now examining whether the autonomous system exercised appropriate caution given its proximity to a school zone and the presence of young pedestrians.

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Why federal investigators stepped in

The NHTSA says the investigation will focus on how Waymo’s automated driving system is designed to behave in and around school zones, especially during peak pickup and drop-off times.

That includes whether the vehicle followed posted speed limits, how it responded to visual cues like crossing guards and parked vehicles and whether its post-crash response met federal safety expectations. The agency is also reviewing how Waymo handled the incident after it occurred.

Waymo said it voluntarily contacted regulators the same day as the crash and plans to cooperate fully with the investigation. In a statement, the company said it remains committed to improving road safety for riders and everyone sharing the road.

Waymo responds to the federal investigation

We reached out to Waymo for comment, and the company provided the following statement:

“At Waymo, we are committed to improving road safety, both for our riders and all those with whom we share the road. Part of that commitment is being transparent when incidents occur, which is why we are sharing details regarding an event in Santa Monica, California, on Friday, January 23, where one of our vehicles made contact with a young pedestrian. Following the event, we voluntarily contacted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that same day. NHTSA has indicated to us that they intend to open an investigation into this incident, and we will cooperate fully with them throughout the process. 

“The event occurred when the pedestrian suddenly entered the roadway from behind a tall SUV, moving directly into our vehicle’s path. Our technology immediately detected the individual as soon as they began to emerge from behind the stopped vehicle. The Waymo Driver braked hard, reducing speed from approximately 17 mph to under 6 mph before contact was made. 

“To put this in perspective, our peer-reviewed model shows that a fully attentive human driver in this same situation would have made contact with the pedestrian at approximately 14 mph. This significant reduction in impact speed and severity is a demonstration of the material safety benefit of the Waymo Driver.

“Following contact, the pedestrian stood up immediately, walked to the sidewalk and we called 911. The vehicle remained stopped, moved to the side of the road and stayed there until law enforcement cleared the vehicle to leave the scene. 

This event demonstrates the critical value of our safety systems. We remain committed to improving road safety where we operate as we continue on our mission to be the world’s most trusted driver.”

Understanding Waymo’s autonomy level

Waymo vehicles fall under Level 4 autonomy on NHTSA’s six-level scale.

At Level 4, the vehicle handles all driving tasks within specific service areas. A human driver is not required to intervene, and no safety operator needs to be present inside the car. However, these systems do not operate everywhere and are currently limited to ride-hailing services in select cities.

The NHTSA has been clear that Level 4 vehicles are not available for consumer purchase, even though passengers may ride inside them.

This is not Waymo’s first federal probe

This latest investigation follows a previous NHTSA evaluation that opened in May 2024. That earlier probe examined reports of Waymo vehicles colliding with stationary objects like gates, chains and parked cars. Regulators also reviewed incidents in which the vehicles appeared to disobey traffic control devices.

That investigation was closed in July 2025 after regulators reviewed the data and Waymo’s responses. Safety advocates say the new incident highlights unresolved concerns.

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What this means for you

If you live in a city where self-driving cars operate, this investigation matters more than it might seem. School zones are already high-risk areas, even for attentive human drivers. Autonomous vehicles must be able to detect unpredictable behavior, anticipate sudden movement and respond instantly when children are present.

This case will likely influence how regulators set expectations for autonomous driving systems near schools, playgrounds and other areas with vulnerable pedestrians. It could also shape future rules around local oversight, data reporting and operational limits for self-driving fleets.

For parents, commuters and riders, the outcome may affect where and when autonomous vehicles are allowed to operate.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Self-driving technology promises safer roads, fewer crashes and less human error. But moments like this remind us that the hardest driving scenarios often involve human unpredictability, especially when children are involved. Federal investigators now face a crucial question: Did the system act as cautiously as it should have in one of the most sensitive driving environments possible? How they answer that question could help define the next phase of autonomous vehicle regulation in the United States.

Do you feel comfortable sharing the road with self-driving cars near schools, or is that a line technology should not cross yet? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Adobe is no longer planning to discontinue Adobe Animate on March 1st. In an FAQ, the company now says that Animate will now be in maintenance mode and that it has “no plans to discontinue or remove access” to the app. Animate will still receive “ongoing security and bug fixes” and will still be available for “both new and existing users,” but it won’t get new features.

An announcement email that went out to Adobe Animate customers about the discontinuation did “not meet our standards and caused a lot of confusion and angst within the community,” according to a Reddit post from Adobe community team member Mike Chambers.

Animate will be available in maintenance mode “indefinitely” to “individual, small business, and enterprise customers,” according to Adobe. Before the change, Adobe said that non-enterprise customers could access Animate and download content until March 1st, 2027, while enterprise customers had until March 1st, 2029.

If your smartphone stays on your bedside table overnight, it stays busy long after you fall asleep. 

Even while it appears idle, your phone continues to send and receive data in the background. Some of that activity is expected. Your device checks for security patches, syncs system settings and keeps essential services running. Other data transfers are far less obvious and far less necessary.

Experts warn that smartphones routinely transmit tracking and advertising signals without you fully realizing it. In many cases, that data includes information that should only be shared with clear and informed consent.

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What data your phone sends while you sleep

Your phone is not just charging overnight. It operates in a continuous data loop that generally falls into two categories.

Legitimate system data

This includes updates, crash reports and basic diagnostics. Operating systems rely on this information to fix bugs, improve stability and protect against security threats. In most cases, this data collection is disclosed and configurable.

Tracking and advertising data

This is where concerns grow. Smartphones also transmit location signals, device identifiers, advertising IDs, usage patterns and app behavior data. Companies combine this information to build detailed user profiles and deliver targeted ads that promise higher engagement. The problem is that the line between necessary diagnostics and commercial tracking is often blurry. Many of us never realize how much data flows out of our phones overnight.

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What we know about phone tracking today

Independent academic investigations found that some Android devices transmitted data linked to tracking behaviors involving major companies like Meta and Yandex. The research, conducted by teams from IMDEA Networks Institute and European universities, showed that certain apps and services continued communicating with external servers even after users attempted to limit tracking. The researchers observed data flows that could link web activity with app identifiers, raising concerns about how effectively privacy controls were enforced at the system level.

There is also long-standing concern around smartphones appearing to “listen” to conversations. While no public evidence shows that phones actively record private speech for advertising, many users report ads that closely mirror recent conversations. At a minimum, aggressive data collection combined with location, app usage and search history can make these moments feel unsettling.

Despite years of scrutiny, most smartphones still operate this way today. The good news is that you can reduce how much data leaves your device.

How to protect yourself from overnight data sharing

You do not need to give up your smartphone to regain control. Small settings changes can make a real difference.

1) Review app permissions

Start with your installed apps. Focus on those with access to your location, microphone, camera and tracking data. Only allow sensitive permissions while the app is in use. Be especially cautious with apps that run continuously in the background.

How to review app permissions on iPhone 

• Open Settings
• Tap Privacy & Security
• Tap Location Services, Microphone, Camera or Tracking
• Select an app from the list
• Choose While Using the App or Never when available

For tracking controls:

• Go to Settings
• Click Privacy & Security
• Tap Tracking
• Turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track

This prevents apps from accessing your advertising identifier and sharing activity across apps and websites.

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How to review app permissions on Android

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

• Open Settings
• Tap Privacy & Security or Security and privacy 
• Click More privacy settings 
• Tap Permission Manager
• Select Location, Microphone, Camera or Sensors
• Tap an app and choose Allow only while using the app or Don’t allow

To review background access:

• Go to Settings
• Click Apps
• Select an app
• Tap Mobile data & Wi-Fi
• Turn off Background data if the app does not need constant access

This limits silent data transfers when the app is not actively open.

2) Limit background activity

Disabling background activity reduces how often apps sync data when you are not using them. This also limits automatic cloud activity. Keep in mind that this may affect real-time backups or notifications. Weigh the convenience against the privacy trade-off.

How to limit background activity on iPhone

Turn off Background App Refresh

• Open Settings
• Tap General
• Tap Background App Refresh
• Tap Background App Refresh at the top
• Select Off or Wi-Fi

To disable it for specific apps:

• Stay on the Background App Refresh screen
• Toggle off apps that do not need to update in the background

This prevents apps from quietly syncing data when they are not open.

How to limit background activity on Android 

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Restrict background data

• Open Settings
• Tap Apps
• Select an app
• Tap Mobile data & Wi-Fi
• Turn off Background data

Restrict background battery usage

• From the app’s settings screen, tap Battery
• Select Restricted or Limit background usage

This reduces background syncing and prevents apps from running silently when you are not actively using them.

3) Turn off personalized advertising

Personalized ads rely on device identifiers and activity data collected across apps. Turning this off limits how your behavior is used for ad targeting, even when your phone is idle.

How to turn off personalized ads on iPhone

• Open Settings
• Tap Privacy & Security
• Tap Tracking
• Turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track

To limit Apple ads:

• Go to Settings
• Click Privacy & Security
• Tap Apple Advertising
• Turn off Personalized Ads

This reduces ad targeting based on your activity within Apple services.

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How to turn off personalized ads on Android

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

• Open Settings
• Tap Privacy & Security or Security and privacy
• Click More privacy settings
• Tap Ads or Advertising
• Tap Delete advertising ID or Opt out of Ads Personalization
• Click Delete advertising ID

You can also reset your advertising ID from this menu to break the link between past activity and future ads.

This limits how apps and advertisers track behavior across apps and websites.

4) Consider a VPN

A reputable VPN can help obscure your IP address and reduce certain forms of network-based tracking. It does not stop all data collection, but it adds a layer of protection, especially on shared or public networks.

For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

5) Remove your data from broker sites

Even if you lock down your phone, much of your personal information already exists online. Data brokers collect and sell details like your name, address, phone number and browsing behavior.

Using a reputable data removal service can help locate and remove your information from these sites. This reduces how easily advertisers and third parties can link your phone activity to your real identity.

For ongoing protection, these services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

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6) Use airplane mode or power off at night

If overnight data sharing concerns you, the simplest option is also the most effective. Turning your phone off or using airplane mode cuts off wireless communication while still allowing alarms to work.

How to turn on airplane mode on iPhone

• Open Control Center by swiping down from the top right corner
• Tap the airplane icon so it turns orange
• Confirm that cellular, Wi Fi and Bluetooth turned off

How to turn on airplane mode on Android

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

• Swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings
• Tap the airplane mode icon
• Check that mobile data, Wi Fi and Bluetooth are disabled

If you still want Bluetooth for a watch or headphones, you can turn it back on manually after enabling airplane mode. This keeps most background data transfers blocked while you sleep.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Your smartphone works around the clock, even when you do not. Some background data sharing keeps your device secure and functional. Other data collection exists primarily to fuel tracking and advertising. The key is awareness and control. By tightening permissions, limiting background activity and disabling ad personalization, you reduce how much of your personal data leaves your phone while you sleep. Privacy is not about fear. It is about informed choices.

Do you leave your phone fully on overnight, or will tonight be the night you finally switch it off? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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