New restrictions on the operation of mobile applications that warn drivers about speed cameras, road checks and police checkpoints may appear in the European Union. We are talking about popular services such as Waze, which are actively used in Cyprus.

Such applications allow drivers to exchange information about the traffic situation, the location of speed cameras, traffic police and other checks in real time.

The reason for the possible changes was the recent decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union, which grants member states the right to impose restrictions on such services if necessary to ensure public safety or public order.

The case was considered at the initiative of the French service Coyote, which also warns users about police checks. Previously, such digital platforms were protected by the principle of “country of origin” and regulated by the legislation of the state where the company is registered.

Now the court has ruled that individual EU countries can independently take action against such services.

However, the decision does not mean an immediate ban on Waze or other similar applications. It only creates a legal framework that will allow States to impose restrictions or additional requirements on their work in the future.

This issue is especially relevant for Cyprus and Greece, where thousands of motorists use navigation apps with traffic alerts every day.

Earlier, the Greek police had already taken similar measures. Administrators of three Viber communities were detained in the country, through which users exchanged information about the location of roadblocks. Criminal cases were opened against them on charges of facilitating the commission of offenses, and the work of these communities was stopped.

In Cyprus, the telegram channel Road Alert Cyprus may be banned, in which users share information about police posts on the roads of Cyprus.

Meanwhile, the number of users of such services continues to grow. Thus, the popularity of Waze increased significantly at the end of 2025: the number of active users increased from about 29,500 to 45,500 in just a few months.

A source: city.sigmalive.com

https://cyprusbutterfly.com.cy/news/na-kipre-ogranichat-rabotu-waze