Uber is testing new security feature in 3 metro areas in the US, including the Triangle
The next time riders use Uber to get around the Triangle, they’ll be able to test a new feature that the company says will provide an extra layer of security.
The ridesharing giant is piloting a new feature in the Raleigh-Durham metro area that allows riders and drivers to record audio of individual trips, the company announced this week.
The feature is being tested in just three U.S. metros, with the others being Kansas City, Missouri and Louisville, Kentucky.
Riders and drivers on the Uber app can enable this option by tapping the shield icon on the app’s map screen and selecting “Record Audio.” Riders can choose at their discretion to record trips, and drivers can leave the feature on while driving on the job.
Users will be made aware if their driver has chosen to record audio on trips before riding and can choose to cancel a ride with that driver if they don’t want to be recorded.
“We firmly believe in two-way accountability,” said Sachin Kasal, vice president of product management, in a news release. “This new audio recording safety feature is another tool that will help empower both drivers and riders and give them added peace of mind when they are on a trip.”
The company said the audio recording was a success when it debuted in Latin American countries in 2019.
Nearly 70% of surveyed riders and drivers in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian city of 6.8 million people, said that the recording feature made them feel safer on Uber rides, the company said.
“We kept privacy, as well as transparency, top-of-mind when designing this feature. Riders will see in the app when their driver has enabled this feature, and if either party chooses to record their trip, the audio file will be encrypted and securely stored on the user’s phone,” said Uttara Sivaram, head of privacy and security public policy at Uber.
The audio cannot be listened to by either the user or Uber unless a safety report is submitted to Uber about a ride. Safety officials at Uber can then decrypt and review the recording to help investigate safety or security incidents.
The company said it will determine on a case-by-case basis after “serious incidents” if audio can be made available to riders or drivers after a trip.
This story was originally published December 9, 2021 at 5:45 AM.
