Uber rolls out video recording feature for drivers in 10 Indian cities

In a statement to the publication, a Uber driver said, “even female passengers traveling late at night insist that we follow the route they want instead of what’s shown on the map. If we refuse, they threaten to file false complaints.”

When asked about the new in-app video recording feature, Uber drivers said the functionality will help them protect themselves in such situations, as they will be able to show proof of what happened when a customer raises a dispute. However, some of them wondered if the company would back them up in such cases, as passengers can easily switch to alternatives if they don’t like being recorded.

As of now, Uber’s in-app video recording feature is available as a pilot test in 10 cities across the country, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Chandigarh, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Kolkata and Mumbai. When a driver starts video recording, a notification will be sent to the rider to make them aware that they are being recorded.

“All recordings are double-encrypted, stored on the device, and cannot be accessed by anyone – including Uber – unless a user chooses to share them as part of a safety report,” an Uber spokesperson told the publication. Also, recordings are automatically deleted from the device if the driver hasn’t shared them after seven days.

First tested in the US in 2022, the video recording feature is currently available in Canada and Brazil and builds on Uber’s in-app audio recording feature. At the time of writing, it is still unclear if Uber’s in-app video recording feature will be rolled out nationwide, so we will wait for the pilot’s performance for a few months to know more. Recently, the company also introduced new teen and senior citizen features for safer rides.

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