Hacktivism or Vandalism? The new and technical way to “blind” robotaxis is already on the streets. 🤖🚕 🧻 😎

During the last few years, multiple news reports and articles have been published about people blocking, breaking, or setting autonomous cars and robotaxis on fire. But this is old news.

🆕 Here is the news: Last month, CNN reported on a new movement called “stackers,” which emerged to fight robotaxis on behalf of local residents. Instead of brutally destroying the cars, they use technical knowledge and an understanding of autonomous technology: the “stackers” block the cars’ sensors and cover LIDAR/RADAR devices with duct tape and stickers.

Maybe it’s time to update the threat model for robotaxis, since this trend isn’t going away anytime soon.

What do you think?

More details:

Residents say Waymo robotaxis are driving them mad. Can AI and humans coexist? [Article]: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/25/us/santa-monica-waymo-battles

Hacktivism, Stacktivism and the Future of Tech Backlash [Article]: https://www.govtech.com/blogs/lohrmann-on-cybersecurity/hacktivism-stacktivism-and-the-future-of-tech-backlash