eli5 – How do applications like Google Maps and Apple Maps know when there is a traffic jam? Where does the information come from?

Question

eli5 – How do applications like Google Maps and Apple Maps know when there is a traffic jam? Where does the information come from?

In: Technology

Answer 1

As others explained, they use the data from the mobile phones of the general public… Which might sound like conspiracy theory BS, but it has been tested and proven.

Here is the story of a guy with 99 phones and no car: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-04/man-creates-fake-traffic-jam-on-google-maps-by-carting-99-phones/11929136