(Reuters) – Uber Applied sciences Inc on Thursday stated it’s going to launch an non-obligatory audio recording pilot program in three U.S. cities to reinforce security, permitting drivers and riders to ship journey recordings to Uber in case of a security incident.
Uber on the finish of 2019 disclosed it had acquired 6,000 stories of sexual assault and 107 highway fatalities associated to 2.3 billion U.S. journeys in 2017 and 2018. The recording function is meant to offer drivers and riders with added safety in the event that they really feel uncomfortable and permit customers to submit proof of how a state of affairs unfolded, Uber stated.
The audio recording function was launched in Latin America two years in the past and is on the market in 14 international locations within the area, however will roll out in the USA for the primary time.
Launching in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, Louisville, Kentucky and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina later this month, drivers and riders will have the ability to decide into audio recording for particular person journeys by way of the Uber app.
Riders are alerted to drivers doubtlessly recording a visit through an in-app banner and may cancel if they’re uncomfortable, Uber stated.
Uber Vice President of Product Administration Sachin Kansal stated the corporate has utilized classes discovered in Latin America to make sure privateness, transparency and comfort.
Encrypted recordings are saved within the Uber app and customers aren’t in a position to play them, Kansal stated. If a security incident happens, customers submitting a security report can ship the recording to certified Uber employees who’re in a position to decrypt it, Kansal stated.
“We count on that individuals will probably be very accepting of this function,” Kansal stated. “As we be taught from these cities and get suggestions, we will broaden it additional.”
Uttara Sivaram, Uber’s senior supervisor of public coverage, stated the corporate would initially focus the recording function on U.S. jurisdictions with one get together consent legal guidelines.
A spokeswoman on Wednesday stated the corporate was awaiting full-year site visitors fatality knowledge from U.S. regulators to finalize its security report for the years 2019 and 2020.
(Reporting by Tina Bellon; Modifying by Invoice Berkrot)
