Parents will soon be able to remotely access Uber drivers’ phone cameras to monitor their teen riders.
The new safety feature, announced Aug. 25, expands on existing parental controls through the ride sharing giant’s teen accounts. When available, parents can choose to “check in” on their teen’s ride using the driver’s on-device camera and mic. Both the teen rider and the Uber driver are notified when live streaming is turned on, according to the company, and streams end as soon as rides are completed.
In a statement to Mashable, Uber further clarified that live video is only accessible if the Uber driver has turned on the company’s Record My Ride feature and enabled live streaming. Apart from a front-facing camera and microphone, there are no specific device requirements for drivers eligible for teen rides choosing to activate live streaming. Drivers can opt out at any time by turning off live video on their account.
The app will notify a parent if live streaming is paused due to an unstable connection or technical error, Uber said. In addition, only linked accounts can view live streams during an active trip.
Teens have already had the option to turn on audio recording during their trips. Similar to the app’s audio recording feature, Uber says live streams remain encrypted, so videos cannot be viewed by parents, teens, or drivers after a trip is complete.
Uber launched teen accounts for riders aged 13-17 in 2023, offering default safety features and trip monitoring for guardians on family accounts. The company has partnered with the National PTA, Safe Kids Worldwide, and the live tracking app Life360. Family features later expanded to Uber Eats, allowing teens to request food deliveries through their supervised accounts.
Uber has faced accusations that the company has not done enough to prevent sexual assault and other violent incidents against riders, including a recent lawsuit that found the company liable for a woman’s rape after the app’s automatic safety provisions failed to flag the ride as dangerous. In June, the company announced it was instituting stricter background check requirements and permanent bans for offending drivers.
Live video is currently being piloted for riders in several cities, including Atlanta, Phoenix, Orlando, Raleigh-Durham, Portland, San Antonio, Cleveland, and El Paso. It will rollout to the rest of the U.S. over the coming weeks.