Uber plans to launch even more essential security features



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Photo: Pablo Blazquez Dominguez (Getty)

Amid growing criticism and lawsuits regarding Uber's failings in passenger safety, the company unveiled several new security features that it was planned to deploy, as well as a the application, announced Thursday.

They will be among the many users added to the carpool application in the past year since Uber announced it was "starting to take serious safety action," a long-awaited commitment because of its widespread problem of conduct of sexual assault and other violent acts against passengers. In March, a man was indicted in the murder of a student in South Carolina. According to the police, his assassin's car was perhaps wrongly attributed to his Uber car.

One of these previous security additions, essentially a panic button built into the app, connects runners to a 911 operator and instantly shares their location information. On Thursday, Uber announced that it would use an emergency button option allowing users to dial 911 discreetly instead, but only in areas where emergency services already support this. technology. The text automatically includes identifying information such as license plate number and vehicle model to help authorities react quickly.

The driver verification process is also updated. Uber plans to let passengers choose to receive a four-digit PIN to inform their driver, who must then enter the correct code into the application, before the trip can begin. The company is currently developing a way to streamline this process by using "ultrasonic waves", which would allow the application to carry out this exchange in its entirety for you. And while drivers are already providing Uber with selfies to confirm their identity, they will soon be making basic prompts such as blinking or turning their heads to meet the new, improved facial recognition technology of the app.

A "Report a Security Incident" option will also be included in Uber's Enhanced Safety Toolkit, allowing cyclists to report any concerns during their trip. Currently, users must wait until the end of their journey to be able to complain about their insane behavior or any other disturbing behavior they encounter. Although Uber has not specified a schedule for its launch of many new features, the company's security product manager, Sachin Kansal, told The Washington Post that he was considering making it available. Travel tracking reports in half of the country. month.

Regarding the update of the application itself, the latest version of Uber will consolidate its carpool and food delivery services with the aim of becoming what the company called "the operating system of your daily life "in his blog post.

This news comes at a time when Uber desperately needs a victory in passenger safety. Among other scandals, last month, one of Uber's previous security initiatives, a $ 1 subscription the company said backing support for improved verification and its future security features , has proved as inaccurate as it may seem. Thus, not only has Uber consistently failed to deal with complaints about service security issues, it has also claimed to have taken advantage of its lack of security by pocketing this "security" right. Not a good look at it.

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