In an effort to keep passengers safe, the rideshare platform Uber announced it will begin audio-recording trips as a safety feature for all rides. The pilot will launch in Mexico and Brazil in December 2019, after which, Uber plans to roll out the feature in the United Staes.
Passengers will have the option to opt-out of the new audio-recording safety feature using the app's Safety Toolkit prior to the ride. The feature will not notify the passenger or the driver when it's been activated, however, passengers will be notified before the ride that the ride may be recorded for safety purposes. For privacy reasons, the recording can't be replayed by the driver or passenger, but the recording can be submitted to Uber's customer support team.
This is one of many safety features the rideshare company has launched and it's been speculated that the safety features are being launched in response to concerns from passengers -- especially female passengers -- about their safety while traveling with Uber alone.
mage Credit: The Next Web
Rideshare Trip Audio-Recordings
Uber Will Begin Audio-Recording Trips to Protect Its Passengers
Trend Themes
1. Safety-recording Technologies - The implementation of audio-recording trips by Uber highlights a trend towards increased use of safety-recording technologies in the rideshare industry.
2. Passenger Privacy Control - The option for passengers to opt-out of audio-recording trips demonstrates a trend in giving passengers more control over their privacy during rideshare journeys.
3. Safety Features for Female Passengers - The launch of safety features by Uber in response to concerns from female passengers indicates a trend towards addressing specific safety needs of different passenger demographics.
Industry Implications
1. Rideshare - The introduction of audio-recording trips as a safety feature in the rideshare industry opens up opportunities for further disruptive innovations in passenger safety.
2. Safety Technology - The increasing use of safety-recording technologies in rideshare services creates new opportunities for innovative solutions in the safety technology industry.
3. Privacy Management - The inclusion of passenger privacy control options in rideshare apps presents potential disruptive innovation opportunities in the privacy management industry.